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Yes they are.

The two fatty acid tails of the molecule are hydrophobic(repel water) but the phosphate head(negatively charged) is hydrophilic (attached to water)thus making it amphipathic.

In biological system phospholipids often occur with other molecules(e.g.,proteins,glycolipids,cholesterol) in a bilayer such as cell membrane.Lipid bilayer occur when hydrophobic tails line up against one another,forming a membrane with hydrophilic heads on both sides facing the water

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13y ago
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15y ago

yeah they head is hydrophlic and the tail is hydrophobic

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Q: Are phospholipids both hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature?
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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.


Why is a phospholipid both hydrophilic and hydrophobic?

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.


Is starch hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

Starch is a biological compound, or biomolecule. It is a polymer of glucose molecules with the formula (C6H12O6)n. Since it contains oxygen, it is not a hydrocarbon.


What makes phospholipid molecules uniquely suited to their role in membrane structure?

Phosopholipids have both a hydrophilic (water loving) and hydrophobic (water hating) region. This enables them to effectively make a barrier between the fluid inside and outside of the cell. The heads of phospholipids are hydrophilic - and so form the surfaces of the membrane, with their hydrophobic (lipid) tails facing inwards.


Do phospholipids contain polar tails and nonpolar head groups?

The compound with both a non-polar tail and a polar head is called an amphiphilic molecule. An amphiphilic molecule can form micelles. These such micelles is how detergents dissolve dirt. A big example of micelles are phospholipids.

Related questions

Are lipids hydrophobic or hydrophobic?

All Lipids are hydrophobic: that's the one property they have in common. This group of molecules includes fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, steroids and cholesterol.


Which statement most accurately explains why cholesterol and phospholipids are amphipathic but fats are not?

Cholesterol and phospholipids contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions; fats are primarily hydrophobic. Save


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.


Is starch hydrophobic?

Starches can be both hydrophobic and hydrophilic, although most of them are hydrophilic.


Why is a phospholipid both hydrophilic and hydrophobic?

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.


What is both hydrophilic and hydrophobic?

What molecules are both hydrophilic and hydropobic.


Is DNA hydrophilic molecule?

Dna has a hydrophilic and hydrophobic side, also you have to remember that DNA is a polar molecule


Is cholesterol hydrophobic or hydrophobic?

Cholesterol has many hydrophobic side chains and a single hydrophilic side chain. Because it contains both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, it is amphipathic.yes cholesterol Hydrophobic , choestol not soluble in water


Is starch hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

Starch is a biological compound, or biomolecule. It is a polymer of glucose molecules with the formula (C6H12O6)n. Since it contains oxygen, it is not a hydrocarbon.


What kind of lipids make up the bilayer that forms the cell membrane?

Phospholipids


Some examples of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules?

idontk nowtheansewrtothis question


What are amphiphilic polymers?

Amphiphilic polymers are heterogeneous with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts.