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Non-polar molecules do not dissolve in water as they cannot form hydrogen bonds, and so they are hydrophobic.

A non-polar molecule is one that the electrons are distributed more symmetrically. They do not have an abundance of charges at the opposite sides, and the charges cancel out each other.

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Q: Does non polar mean hydrophobic or hydrophilic?
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What does hydrophilic mean and how do you determine if a molecule is hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

Hydrophilic, or 'water loving' refers to molecules that are easily miscible in water. Polar molecules and ionic compounds are generally hydrophilic, and non-polar molecules are generally hydrophobic.See the Related Questions to the left for more information about how to determine if a molecule is non-polar, polar, or ionic.


Why does the tail of the phospholipid molecule of the cell membrane has a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail?

tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.tail is hydrophobic because it has no charges which means it is non-polar.


What has a polar head and non polar tail in a cell?

The phospholipid bilayer, otherwise known as the cell membrane contains many structures such as these. The individual units you speak of are called phopholipids, and are usually desribed as having a hydrophilic (polar) head group and a hydrophobic (non-polar) tail group. Hope this helps


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.


Why does a cell membrane need polar and non polar parts?

The cell membrane is mostly composed of phospholipid molecules. Each of these has a polar head and a non-polar tail part. The polar bits are attracted to water (hydrophilic) , and the non-polar parts repel water (hydrophobic). In the membrane, they form a double layer - like a sandwich - the polar heads stick out, and the tails form the middle, like the filling inside the sandwich. This way, the inner and the outer surfaces of the membrane are hydrophilic, being on "good terms" with the water in the outer environment and the water in the cytoplasm. At the same time, the membrane separates these two aqueous environments from each other - exactly because there is a non-polar middle layer, that does not allow polar substances to cross to the other side.

Related questions

What does hydrophilic mean and how do you determine if a molecule is hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

Hydrophilic, or 'water loving' refers to molecules that are easily miscible in water. Polar molecules and ionic compounds are generally hydrophilic, and non-polar molecules are generally hydrophobic.See the Related Questions to the left for more information about how to determine if a molecule is non-polar, polar, or ionic.


Is hydrogen hydrophobic?

Alcohol is hydrophobic. This is because one part of alcohol is non polar. The other part of alcohol is hydrophilic.


Tails of phospholipids that dont like water?

Phospholipids have a lipid tail. This is non-polar and therefore hydrophobic (water hating). The phosphate head is polar and hydrophilic (water-loving).


Are proteins polar?

Some proteins are polar (hydrophilic) and some proteins are non-polar (hydrophobic), it depends on their function. Also, some proteins can have both polar and non polar regions in their structure


Are polar molecules hydrophillic?

No, non-polar molecules are hydrophobic because they cannot form hydrogen bonds. A good example of this would be a cell membrane. The fatty acids in the lipid bilayer are non-polar and hydrophobic, while the polar ends that face the outside and inside of the cell are hydrophilic.


What liquids are hydrophobic?

Anything non-polar is going to be hydrophobic, because water is polar. Most oils, grease, and hydrocarbons are non-polar, so water can't touch them. The word hydrophobic means "water-fearing" so it stays away. Polar substances would be hydrophilic in the presence of water. That word means "water-loving."


Why is the phosphate the polar part of the phosphilipid?

The phospholipid heads are hydrophillic and prefer the water while the tails are hydrophobic and are shielded from the water.


Is methanol hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

It is hydrophilic, because it is a non symetric molecule, one end of it (the group CH3) is non polar while the other (OH) is polar, this part is attracted to water molecules which are also polar (one part of them is positive and the other negative) therefore you can mix methanol with water.


Does the phospholipids contain a non polar component and a charged polar component?

Yes, they do. Phospholipids contain a hydrophilic (polar) head and a hydrophobic (nonpolar) tail. The hydrophilic (polar) head contains the phosphate groups, which account for the reason why the head is polar since each phoshpate has a net charge of -2. The tail consists of long chains of hydrocarbons, which are nonpolar/hydrophobic due to the symmetry of the chains.


What are the molecules in the plasma membrane made of?

phospholipids are the molecules that make up the plasma membrane and they are made of polar (hydrophilic) heads and 2 non-polar (hydrophobic) tails


Hydrophilic compounds polar or non polar?

Hydrophilic compounds are polar or ionic and this is the reason for attraction of water towards these substances.


What is hydrophobic and hydrophyilic?

the definition for hydrophobic is having little or no affinity for water. the definition for hydrophilic is having a strong affinity for water. All those compounds which have polar chemical structure possess affinity to water or can dissolve in water like alcohol, and those with non-polar structure are hydrophobic and cant dissolve in water like fat, oils etc.