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nmdcat.online June 27, 2026

The chemical property that allows phospholipids to form a bilayer in an aqueous environment is their amphipathic nature, meaning they contain both

A. An acidic region and a basic region
B. A saturated tail and an unsaturated tail
C. A hydrophilic polar head and a hydrophobic non-polar tail
✓
D. A glycerol backbone and a sphingosine backbone

📝 Explanation

"Amphipathic" describes a molecule with both hydrophilic (water-loving, polar head group) and hydrophobic (water-fearing, non-polar fatty acid tails) parts. This dual property forces them into a bilayer arrangement where the heads face water and the tails are sequestered away from it.

📖 Additional Information

  • An acidic region and a basic region
  • A saturated tail and an unsaturated tail
  • A hydrophilic polar head and a hydrophobic non-polar tail
  • A glycerol backbone and a sphingosine backbone

"Amphipathic" describes a molecule with both hydrophilic (water-loving, polar head group) and hydrophobic (water-fearing, non-polar fatty acid tails) parts. This dual property forces them into a bilayer arrangement where the heads face water and the tails are sequestered away from it.

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