Final answer:
The term that describes the entire phospholipid molecule is 'amphipathic' due to its hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail, making it crucial for cell membrane structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that correctly describes the entire phospholipid molecule is amphipathic. This is due to its structure, which includes a hydrophilic "head" and a hydrophobic "tail". The head of the molecule includes a phosphate group, which is negatively charged and is attracted to water, making it hydrophilic. The tail, on the other hand, consists of two fatty acid chains which are uncharged and repel water, catering to its hydrophobic nature.
Thus, the dual characteristics of attraction and repulsion to water classify phospholipids as amphipathic, a property that is crucial for the formation of cell membranes, where they arrange in a bilayer with hydrophobic tails facing inward and hydrophilic heads facing the aqueous environments both inside and outside the cell.