So yeah, I e-mailed a few universities to see what they had to say, about 2 weeks ago. I only got one response 
Coincidentally we were already having a discussion.
Dear Steve,
First, I have to say that you have sent me the most interesting water question that I have ever received. You are correct about both types of wax (all wax actually) being hydrophobic. Water molecules are polar, which means that each one has a negative end (the O) and a positive end (the H's). The polarity of water makes it a cohesive molecule, that is water molecules are attracted to other water molecules. Water also exhibits adhesive properties, which means water molecules are attracted to other (polar) molecules. You can see water's adhesive properties by
pouring it into a glass and looking very closely at the surface of the water where it meets the glass. You will see that the water rises up along the glass. It does this because the water molecules are adhering to the glass molecules.
Water molecules are not attracted to wax molecules, they don't adhere to each other. We call any substance that is not attracted to water hydrophobic. Wax, oil and soap are three common hydrophobic substances. Soap is extra special because not only does it not adhere to water, it also makes water less cohesive (less attractive to other water).
So what is the difference between the car wax that beads the water and the car wax that sheets the water? To know for sure exactly what is going on, we would have to know the ingredients in both types of wax. However, just by the reaction of the water, we know that the wax that sheets is more hydrophobic and appears to also disrupt the cohesion of the water. So it must contain something to do this that the beading wax does not contain.
Take care,
Marcy
Wow you would have thought that soap is not only hydrphobic but it futzes up water while it's at it, didn't know that.
So it's time for a new experient, take two test tubes coat them with K and Z (and other waxes) on the inside and fill them up with the same amount of water and measure their menisci (plural for meniscus: the curved upper surface of a column of liquid)
By measuring the the amount of water that creeps up the side of a test tube we can quantify (measure with numbers) the amount of adhesivity.
But yeah, if there is something in Klasse that actually affects the water then we should be able to see it. But it doesn't dispute the ability for Klasse to be hydrophobic.
Coincidentally we were already having a discussion.Dear Steve,
First, I have to say that you have sent me the most interesting water question that I have ever received. You are correct about both types of wax (all wax actually) being hydrophobic. Water molecules are polar, which means that each one has a negative end (the O) and a positive end (the H's). The polarity of water makes it a cohesive molecule, that is water molecules are attracted to other water molecules. Water also exhibits adhesive properties, which means water molecules are attracted to other (polar) molecules. You can see water's adhesive properties by
pouring it into a glass and looking very closely at the surface of the water where it meets the glass. You will see that the water rises up along the glass. It does this because the water molecules are adhering to the glass molecules.
Water molecules are not attracted to wax molecules, they don't adhere to each other. We call any substance that is not attracted to water hydrophobic. Wax, oil and soap are three common hydrophobic substances. Soap is extra special because not only does it not adhere to water, it also makes water less cohesive (less attractive to other water).
So what is the difference between the car wax that beads the water and the car wax that sheets the water? To know for sure exactly what is going on, we would have to know the ingredients in both types of wax. However, just by the reaction of the water, we know that the wax that sheets is more hydrophobic and appears to also disrupt the cohesion of the water. So it must contain something to do this that the beading wax does not contain.
Take care,
Marcy
Wow you would have thought that soap is not only hydrphobic but it futzes up water while it's at it, didn't know that.
So it's time for a new experient, take two test tubes coat them with K and Z (and other waxes) on the inside and fill them up with the same amount of water and measure their menisci (plural for meniscus: the curved upper surface of a column of liquid)
By measuring the the amount of water that creeps up the side of a test tube we can quantify (measure with numbers) the amount of adhesivity.
But yeah, if there is something in Klasse that actually affects the water then we should be able to see it. But it doesn't dispute the ability for Klasse to be hydrophobic.
