Final answer:
Phospholipids have an amphipathic nature, with both hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.
Step-by-step explanation:
A phospholipid molecule consists of a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid tails and a phosphate-containing group called the head. The head is hydrophilic, meaning it is attracted to water, while the tails are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. This arrangement gives phospholipids an amphipathic nature, with both a hydrophilic and hydrophobic region.
The tails of phospholipids are hydrophobic, repelling water and contributing to the amphipathic nature of the molecule, essential for cellular membrane formation.
The characteristic that describes the tails of phospholipids is hydrophobic. A phospholipid molecule is composed of a hydrophilic head, which contains a phosphate group, and hydrophobic tails, each made up of fatty acids. These tails are uncharged or nonpolar and repel water, which is a key aspect of the amphipathic nature of phospholipids. This amphipathic property is essential for the formation of cellular membranes, where phospholipids align with their hydrophobic tails facing inward and their hydrophilic heads facing the aqueous environment both inside and outside the cell.