The characteristic of a compound containing both polar and nonpolar groups. This allows the compound to be soluble in both polar and nonpolar solvents. Water is a polar solvent; chloroform is a nonpolar solvent.
In chemistry, having polar and nonpolar (water soluble and water-insoluble) regions within a single molecule. This two-part structure allows these chemicals to link, or to segregate, oils and water. Phospholipids, bile salts, and detergents are examples of amphipathic molecules.