Here's why:

* Polarity: Hydrophilic substances are typically polar, meaning they have an uneven distribution of electrical charge within their molecules. This creates regions of partial positive and partial negative charge, similar to water molecules, which are also polar.

* Hydrogen Bonding: The partial charges on hydrophilic molecules allow them to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. These strong interactions are the primary reason for attraction between hydrophilic substances and water.

Examples of hydrophilic substances include:

* Sugars: Like glucose, they have many polar hydroxyl groups that readily form hydrogen bonds with water.

* Salts: Salts like sodium chloride (NaCl) dissociate into ions in water, forming strong electrostatic interactions.

* Many proteins and amino acids: Contain polar side chains that interact with water.

In contrast, hydrophobic substances are repelled by water. They are typically non-polar and do not form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.