Question

What holds a lipid bilayer together? How/why does the structure of a phospholipid drive it to form a bilayer? (Use the terms "polarity" and "hydrophobic effect" to describe)

Answer 1

Phospholipids become arranged with their hydrophobic tails facing each other and their hydrophilic heads facing out, forming a lipid bilayer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The amphipathic nature of phospholipids is vital to the structure of a plasma membrane because, in water, phospholipids automatically become arranged with their hydrophobic tails facing each other and their hydrophilic heads facing out. In this way, they form a lipid bilayer—a barrier composed of a double layer of phospholipids that separates the water and other materials on one side from the water and other materials on the other side.