Final answer:
The incorrect statement is that phospholipids are amphipathic while detergents are hydrophobic. Both phospholipids and detergents are amphipathic, but phospholipids form bilayers and detergents form micelles due to differences in their structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about phospholipids and detergents that is NOT true is: Phospholipids are amphipathic, whereas detergents are hydrophobic. Phospholipids and detergents are both amphipathic molecules, which means they have both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-fearing) properties. Phospholipids have two hydrophobic tails and a hydrophilic head, forming extended double layers or bilayers in membranes, with the tails facing inward and the heads facing the aqueous environment. On the contrary, detergents usually have a single hydrophobic tail and form spherical structures called micelles in water, with the tails tucked away from water and the hydrophilic heads interfacing with the surrounding water.