Final answer:
Non-polar molecules like fats, oils, and waxes are hydrophobic and do not dissolve in water due to the polarity of water molecules. The polar water molecules repel these non-polar compounds, causing them to separate, as seen in oil and vinegar mixtures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Non-polar molecules such as fats, oils, and waxes do not interact well with water due to the polarity of water molecules. These non-polar substances are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water, and therefore do not dissolve in it.
An example of this can be seen when oil is added to water and it forms beads or a separate layer, because the polar water molecules are more attracted to each other than to non-polar oil molecules. In contrast, polar substances which do dissolve in water are known as hydrophilic. This phenomenon is famously demonstrated in the immiscibility of oil and vinegar in salad dressings, where the non-polar oil separates from the vinegar, which is an aqueous solution.