What term describes molecules that can mix and dissolve in water?

The term that describes molecules that can mix and dissolve in water is hydrophilic. Hydrophilic substances have an affinity for water due to their polar nature or the presence of functional groups that can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. This property allows them to interact easily with water, leading to their solubility in it.

For example, sugars and salts are considered hydrophilic because they readily dissolve in water, facilitating various biological processes within living organisms. This characteristic is crucial in nutrition, as it influences how substances such as nutrients are absorbed and utilized in the body.

The other terms pertain to different properties: hydrophobic refers to molecules that are nonpolar and do not mix well with water, amphibian describes molecules that have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts, and liposoluble refers to substances that dissolve in fats or oils, rather than in water. Understanding these distinctions is important in the study of nutrition and biochemistry, as they impact how different substances interact in biological systems.