Can someone please help me with this question regarding hydrophobic molecules in water? CHEM/BIO

Question

Which is the most accurate statement of the phenomenon underlying 'hydrophobicity', the clustering of oily molecules in the presence of water?
Select one:
a. it's all about size--oil molecules are long, so interact more with other long oil molecules
b. oil molecules interact tightly, causing clusters from which water is excluded
c. water molecules lose opportunities to form bonds with each other when 'interrupted' by oily/hydrophobic ones
d. water molecules 'flee' oil molecules, leaving the oils together
e. like attracts like--water molecules bond to other waters, and oils to other oils.

 

I believe it is either c. or d., but I am not sure which. In fact, I am leaning more towards d, since hydrophobic molecules do not really have positive interactions with each other and water molecules just want to avoid them since they have nothing to offer in terms of positive/negative partial charges.

Answer 1

Don't rule out other answers just yet.

 

Remember water molecules form hydrogen bonds with other water molecules and water soluble substances, and hydrophobic molecules form hydrophobic interactions with other fatty molecules (the reason why our gall bladders produce bile in our digestive tract is to dissolve and absorb hydrophobic molecules such as fats in our food we eat)