Final answer:
A phospholipid molecule is amphipathic, with a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails. This structure is important for forming cell membranes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A phospholipid molecule is amphipathic, which means it has both a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic part. The head of the phospholipid molecule is composed of a hydrophilic phosphate group, while the tails are hydrophobic fatty acid chains.
Amphipathic molecules have both regions that are attracted to water (hydrophilic) and regions that repel water (hydrophobic). This property is important in the structure and function of phospholipids, as they form the main component of cell membranes.
The hydrophilic heads of phospholipids interact with water molecules, while the hydrophobic tails are oriented away from the water, creating a bilayer structure that forms the basis of cell membranes.