text: why don't fats & oils readily dissolve in water?why do ions & polar molecules easily dissolve in water? the human body biology class at njcu because water is polar.  polar molecules can create favorable interations (hydrogen bonds) where + and - charges match up, for an energetically favorable configuration.  lipids (fats and oils) are non-polar, and do not forma favorable interactions with water and other polar solvents.  hence, they keep to their own--polar and polar go well together, and nonpolar goes with nonpolar.  hence, hydrophobic (water fearing) and lipophilic (fat loving) mean the same thing.