Term: hydrophobic interaction
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.H02907

Definition:
The tendency of hydrocarbons (or of lipophilic hydrocarbon-like groups in solutes) to form intermolecular aggregates in an aqueous medium, and analogous intramolecular interactions. The name arises from the attribution of the phenomenon to the apparent repulsion between water and hydrocarbons. However, the phenomenon ought to be attributed to the effect of the hydrocarbon-like groups on the water-water interaction. The misleading alternative term 'hydrophobic bond' is discouraged.

Related Terms:
1) hydrocarbons (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.H02889).
2) intramolecular (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03130).
3) lipophilic (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.L03572).
4) intermolecular (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03098).

Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1123 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)

Citation: 'hydrophobic interaction' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.H02907

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