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The fatty acid tails of phospholipids are ______ and are found in the ______ of the phospholipid bilayer.

2 Answers

11 votes

Final answer:

The fatty acid tails of phospholipids are hydrophobic and are located inside the phospholipid bilayer, away from water.

Step-by-step explanation:

The fatty acid tails of phospholipids are hydrophobic and are found in the interior of the phospholipid bilayer. Phospholipids are composed of a hydrophilic head that includes a phosphate-containing group attached to a glycerol molecule, and two hydrophobic tails, each containing a fatty acid chain. In the structure of the cell membrane, the amphipathic nature of these molecules allows them to form a bilayer where the hydrophilic heads face outward towards the aqueous environment, and the hydrophobic tails face inward, away from water.

User Jo Douglass
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nonpolar, inner membrane (since they are hydrophobic and tails are avoiding polar molecules)
User Joey Adams
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