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They have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic heads. In a lipid bilayer, the hydrophilic head of the phospholipid faces the outside of the membrane while the hydrophobic head faces the the hydrophobic head of another phospholipid.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThey have amphiphilic (both) characteristic. The structure of the phospholipid molecule generally consists of two hydrophobic fatty acid "tails" and a hydrophilic "head" consisting of a phosphate group.
Phospholipids are arranged so that their hydrophobic heads are pointing outwards and their hydrophilic tails are pointing inwards when in a water environment in water. This arrangement allows plasma membranes to be selectively permeable to solutes such as proteins, ions and water.
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How do the hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of phospholipids help in maintaining the structure of the cell membrane?
Hydrophilic molecules are attracted to water. Hydrophobic molecules are not attracted to water, but they are attracted to each other. Phospholipid molecules are unusual because they are partly hydrophilic and partly hydrophobic. The phosphate head is hydrophilic and the two hydrocarbon tails are hydrophobic. In water, phospholipids form double layer with the hydrophilic heads in contact with water on both sides and the hydrophilic tails away from water in the centre. This arrangement is found in biological membranes. The attraction between the hydrophobic tails in the centre and between the hydrophilic heads and the surrounding water makes membranes veery stable.
What is a cellmembrane?
A cell membrane is a phospholipid bilayer. It is made up of a hydrophilic head(the phosphorous part) and a hydrophobic tail(the lipid part). The hydrophobic tails face inward and the hydrophilic heads face the cytoplasm and the external solution.
The phospholipid molecules of most membranes have?
A hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails.
The head of a phospholipid water and is said to be?
The head of a phospholipid is a phosphate group and is hydrophilic, which means it is attracted to water, in particular the intracellular and extracellular fluids.
He fatty acids in the tail of a phospholipid molecule are?
This is called the hydrophobic 'side' of the phospholipid molecule
What makes phospholipid membranes good at keeping some molecules out?
They have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions
The phosphate group of a phospholipid?
The phosphate group of a phospholipid consist of which a. hydrophobic, b. hydrophilic, c. poloar, d. nonpolar, or e. both B and C
What is a double walled with molecules that have hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic head?
Phospholipid Bilayer
What is the characteristic the best describes the tail of a phospholipid molecule?
The tail of a phospholipid molecule is hydrophobic, while the head is hydrophilic.
Is starch hydrophobic?
Starches can be both hydrophobic and hydrophilic, although most of them are hydrophilic.
Is the polar end of the phospholipid plasma membrane hydrophobic or hydrophilic?
A polar molecule is hydrophilic, which means that it will easily dissolve in water. Examples of hydrophilic molecules are sugars and salts.
What is both hydrophilic and hydrophobic?
What molecules are both hydrophilic and hydropobic.
What is the phospholipids structure?
The general structure of a phospholipid is composed of a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail.
What is the structure of phospholipids?
The general structure of a phospholipid is composed of a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail.
The polar end of the phospholipid plasma membrane is . hydrophilic hydrophobic?
"philic" ( likes water)
What group does the polar end of a phospholipid contain?
A phospholipid is a type of fat found in the body. Phospholipids are made up of a polar hydrophilic head and a nonpolar hydrophobic tail. Hydrophilic means water-loving and hydrophobic means water hating.
Where is the hydrophilic portion of membrane?
The head is hydrophilic and the tail is hydrophobic.
