Question

The phospholipid molecules of most membranes have a ____. a. hydrophobic head and a hydrophilic tail b. hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail c. hydrophobic head and two hydrophobic tails d. hydrophilic head and tail e. hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails

Answer 1

Answer:

b. hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail.

Step-by-step explanation:

Phospholipid molecules, which are the primary components of cell membranes, have a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) tail. This structural arrangement is essential for forming the lipid bilayer that constitutes the basis of cell membranes. The hydrophilic head interacts with water, while the hydrophobic tail or tails are oriented away from water, creating a stable barrier that separates the inside and outside of the cell.

Answer 2

The phospholipid molecules of most membranes have a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails, specifically two hydrophobic fatty acid tails.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phospholipid molecules of most membranes have a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. A phospholipid is an amphipathic molecule that plays a critical role in the structure of cell membranes. Each phospholipid molecule consists of:

• A polar head that is hydrophilic (attracted to water).
• Two fatty acid tails that are hydrophobic (repelled by water).

Their amphipathic nature allows phospholipids to form a bilayer in membranes, where the hydrophilic heads face the aqueous environment outside and inside the cell and the hydrophobic tails face each other, creating a barrier that separates the cell's interior from the external environment.