Question

Which statement correctly describes why the phospholipids of the cell membrane arrange the way they do in a bilayer?

A. The polar heads are repelled by water, so they position themselves in the middle of the bilayer. The nonpolar tails are attracted to water, so they point outward.
B. The polar heads are attracted to water, so they position themselves in the middle of the bilayer. The nonpolar tails are repelled by water, so they point outward.
C. The nonpolar tails are repelled by water, so they position themselves in the middle of the bilayer. The polar heads are attracted to water, so they point outward.
D.The nonpolar tails are attracted to water, so they position themselves in the middle of the bilayer. The polar heads are repelled by water, so they point outward.

Answer 1

Answer: C. The nonpolar tails are repelled by water, so they position themselves in the middle of the bilayer. The polar heads are attracted to water, so they point outward.

Explanation: Cell Membrane is a phospholipid bilayer that helps to maintain the integrity of the cell due to its impermeability to polar substances. Phospholipids have a polar head and a nonpolar tail. The polar heads are water loving (hydrophilic) while the nonpolar tails are hydrophobic (water fearing). The Phospholipids form a bilayer in which the nonpolar tails of the phospholipids in each layer are arranged to face the other layer, thus forming the core of the bilayer while their polar head groups face outward and interact with the aqueous phase on the other side.