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Which molecule is less soluble in water–a fat or a phospholipid? Why?

a) Fat; it lacks a hydrophilic head
b) Phospholipid; it has a hydrophobic tail
c) Both are equally soluble in water
d) Neither is soluble in water

User Oliver K
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Fat is less soluble in water than a phospholipid because fats are completely hydrophobic without a hydrophilic head, unlike phospholipids which have both hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.

A fat molecule is less soluble in water compared to a phospholipid because it lacks any hydrophilic (water-attracting) components. Unlike fats, phospholipids are amphipathic molecules, possessing both hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails. The hydrophilic heads of phospholipids are attracted to water, which makes them partially soluble, while the water-fearing hydrophobic tails avoid water. Therefore, while a phospholipid has some level of interaction with water due to its hydrophilic head, a fat, being entirely hydrophobic, does not dissolve in water at all.

Is, a fat molecule is less soluble in water than a phospholipid. The correct answer to the question is: a) Fat; it lacks a hydrophilic head.

User Brandon Pelfrey
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