Definition
In chemistry, an amphiphile, also referred to as an amphipath, is a dipolar chemical compound possessing both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties within the same molecule. Such compound is called amphiphilic or amphipathic. This dipolar characteristic implies the existence of different chemical groups forming spatially segregated regions with contrasting surface polarity. Amphiphilic compounds include surfactants, detergents, block copolymers, and Janus particles.
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