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Multiple Choice
How do phospholipids interact with water molecules due to the hydrophobic effect?
A
Both the hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails dissolve freely in water.
B
Their hydrophilic heads interact with water, while their hydrophobic tails avoid water, leading to the formation of bilayers.
C
Phospholipids repel water entirely and form solid crystals.
D
Their hydrophobic tails interact with water, while their hydrophilic heads avoid water.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structure of phospholipids: Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules, meaning they have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) regions. The hydrophilic head typically contains a phosphate group, while the hydrophobic tail consists of fatty acid chains.
Recognize the hydrophobic effect: The hydrophobic effect is a phenomenon where nonpolar molecules or regions (like the fatty acid tails) tend to avoid water and aggregate together, minimizing their exposure to the aqueous environment.
Analyze the interaction of hydrophilic heads with water: The hydrophilic heads of phospholipids contain polar groups that can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, allowing them to interact freely with the aqueous environment.
Examine the behavior of hydrophobic tails: The hydrophobic tails, being nonpolar, avoid water and instead interact with each other. This leads to the self-assembly of phospholipids into structures like bilayers, where the tails are shielded from water by the heads.
Conclude the formation of bilayers: Due to the amphipathic nature of phospholipids, they spontaneously arrange themselves in water to form bilayers. In these bilayers, the hydrophilic heads face outward toward the water, while the hydrophobic tails are tucked inward, away from the water, creating a stable structure.