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Why is the cell (plasma) membrane composed of two phospholipids with the "heads" facing outwards?

the tails are attracted to each other because of hydrogen bonding
O the tails are attracted to each other because of ionic bonding
The cytoplasm and environment outside of the cell is made of carbohydrates. The "head" of the molecules are attracted to
the carbohydrates.
The cytoplasm and environment outside of the cell is made of water. The "head" of the molecules are attracted to the
water

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The cell membrane is composed of two phospholipids with the 'heads' facing outwards. The tails are hydrophobic and face each other, while the 'heads' are hydrophilic and face the water on both sides of the membrane.


Step-by-step explanation:

The cell membrane is composed of two phospholipids with the 'heads' facing outwards because:

  • The tails of the phospholipids are hydrophobic, meaning they are repelled by water. Thus, when placed in a watery environment, the tails will orient themselves towards each other, forming the interior of the membrane.
  • The 'heads' of the phospholipids have a phosphate group that is hydrophilic, meaning it is attracted to water. These 'heads' face the water on both sides of the membrane, creating a protective barrier between the cell's internal contents and the external environment.

Learn more about Cell Membrane Structure

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User Kayana
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