A material is called lyotropic if it forms liquid crystal phases upon the addition of a solvent. Historically the term was used to describe materials composed of amphiphilic molecules. Such molecules consist of an ionic or non-ionic hydrophilic head-group which is attracted to water, and attached to a hydrophobic group which is repelled by water. ...
Synonym: lyophilic. ... Origin: Lyo-+ G. Trope, a turning ... (05 Mar 2000) ... 
(li″o-tro´pik) lyophilic.
Type: Term Pronunciation: lī′ō-trop′ik Synonyms: lyophilic
noting any series of ions, salts, or radicals arranged in descending order relative to the magnitude of their effect on a given solvent.