220k views
1 vote
Because of hydrogen bonding, water is uniquely suited for its central role in life. Many hydrophilic molecules interact freely with water, but there are a number of hydrophobic molecules important for life,too. How does the interaction between water and hydrophobic molecules help to organize biological systems?

A.Because cells are not pure water (they have many substances dissolved within them), the hydrophilic/hydrophobic effect has little role in biological organization.
B.The ionic bonds between water cause hydrophobic molecules to associate with one another and not with water molecules.
C.Because water molecules preferentially associate with one another, they force hydrophobic molecules to associate with one another and not with water molecules.
D.None of the above

2 Answers

6 votes

Answer:

C.Because water molecules preferentially associate with one another, they force hydrophobic molecules to associate with one another and not with water molecules

Step-by-step explanation:

Hydrogen bonding between water molecules is of crucial importance because all life requires an aqueous environment and water constitutes about 70–80 percent of the weight of most cells. While the body also contains some hydrophobic components as well including lipids froming lipid bilayer. Hydrophilic (water) molecules cannot dissolve hydrophobic molecules and vice versa.

User Brian Hoang
by
2.9k points
5 votes

Answer: B

Step-by-step explanation:

Water is a polar solvent and ionic it preferentially associate with one another and other polar solvent.

They ionic bonds between water molecules forces hydrophobic molecules away to associate with other hydrophobic molecules and not with water molecules.

Like in the phospholipid bilayers of the cell membrane the hydrophillic polar heads interacts with one another are hydrophobic nonpolar tails interacts with one another in the core of the cell membrane.

User Michael Grassman
by
2.9k points