Final answer:
A phospholipid consists of a hydrophilic head with a phosphate group and a glycerol molecule, and two hydrophobic fatty acid tails. The amphipathic nature of phospholipids allows them to form bilayers in cell membranes, with heads facing the water and tails hidden away.
Step-by-step explanation:
The components of a phospholipid can be labeled as follows:
- The hydrophilic head, which includes a phosphate-containing group attached to a glycerol molecule. This head is water-attracting or water-loving due to the presence of the phosphate group.
- The hydrophobic tails, which are typically made up of two fatty acids that are water-repelling or water-fearing. These tails can be either saturated or unsaturated fatty acids.
This structure makes the phospholipid an amphipathic molecule, with a polar, hydrophilic head and a non-polar, hydrophobic tail. In a biological membrane, phospholipids form a bilayer, with the hydrophobic tails facing inward, shielded from water, while the hydrophilic heads face outward towards the aqueous environment.