Describe the chemical properties of phospholipids that account for their behavior in water
What will be an ideal response?
Phospholipids have polar phosphate "heads" and nonpolar fatty acid "tails," which interact in different ways with water molecules. The phospholipid heads are attracted to polar water molecules, but the nonpolar tails of the phospholipid are repelled by water. As the tails are driven away from the water molecules, they congregate together, either in the interior of a ball of lipid (called a micelle) or within the interior of a double layer of phospholipids (called a bilayer). This leaves the phosphate heads "outside," where they can easily interact with the water molecules.
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application
Section: Organic Macromolecules
Learning Outcome: 2.21
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a. Class b. Order c. Family d. Genus
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