Question

When relatively high concentrations of fatty acids are suspended in water, they form structures known as ________. (b) When relatively high concentrations of membrane phospholipids are dissolved in water, they form structures known as ________. (c) Why are the structures listed in your answers to (a) and (b) above energetically favored

Answer 1

Answer:(a) micelles. (b) bilayers. (c) Micelles are favored when the polar head group has a greater cross-sectional area than the non polar acyl chain, making the molecule wedge-shaped; bilayers are favored when the cross-sectional area of head group and acyl chain(s) are about the same, so that the molecule is cylindrical.

Step-by-step explanation: