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PLS HELP!!

The phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane is both hydrophobic and hydrophilic. Why is this important to the function of the membrane?

A. To maintain balance of water and nutrients in the cell.

B. To allow cellular bonding.

C. To allow for covalent bonding.

User Touzoku
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1 Answer

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The cell membrane separates the intracellular environment from the extracellular environment outside of the cell. A phospholipid is composed of a phosphate group and a lipid. It is composed of a hydrophilic, polar phosphate head and two hydrophobic fatty acid tails.

The structure of the bilayer is such that the tails are shielded from contact with water, creating a selectively-permeable barrier which will be impermeable to most hydrophilic molecules.

So, the answer is A) To maintain balance of water and nutrients in the cell.

User Tim Trout
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