AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -1: A phospholipid consists of a head and a tail. The “head” of the molecule contains the phosphate group and is hydrophilic, meaning that it will dissolve in water. The “tail” of the molecule is made up of two fatty acids, which are hydrophobic and do not dissolve in water.

Detailed explanation-2: -The hydrophilic head group consists of a phosphate-containing group attached to a glycerol molecule. The hydrophobic tails, each containing either a saturated or an unsaturated fatty acid, are long hydrocarbon chains.

Detailed explanation-3: -The heads, which form the outer and inner linings, are “hydrophilic” (water loving) while the tails that face the interior of the cell membrane are “hydrophobic” (water fearing).

Detailed explanation-4: -The most abundant membrane lipids are the phospholipids. These have a polar head group and two hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails. The tails are usually fatty acids, and they can differ in length (they normally contain between 14 and 24 carbon atoms).