HUMAN NUTRITION

NUTRITION

LIPIDS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
The heads of phospholipids are
A
Hydrophilic
B
Hydrophobic
C
Either A or B
D
None of the above
Explanation: 

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: -Each phospholipid is amphipathic, with two hydrophobic tails and a hydrophilic head. The hydrophobic tails face inward towards one another, and the hydrophilic heads face outwards. Chemical structure of a phospholipid, showing the hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails.

Detailed explanation-3: -All of the lipid molecules in cell membranes are amphipathic (or amphiphilic)-that is, they have a hydrophilic (“water-loving”) or polar end and a hydrophobic (“water-fearing”) or nonpolar end. The most abundant membrane lipids are the phospholipids. These have a polar head group and two hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails.

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