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When in the presence of water, how does a phospholipid orient itself? What property of water initiates this reaction?

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Phospholipids are the lipids containing phosphate group. It is composed of two main units, one is the glycerol unit/fatty acid unit (non-polar unit) and another is the phosphate unit (polar unit).

When phospholipids are placed in water the two groups orient themselves to form a bilayer with phosphate group which is hydrophilic in nature facing outward and the glycerol unit/ fatty acid unit which is hydrophobic in nature facing inwards.

The cohesive nature of water that is its formation of hydrogen bonding initiates the process of formation of bilayer.

When in the presence of water, how does a phospholipid orient itself? What property-example-1
User UmeshR
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