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Question
Biology
Posted 10 months ago
Explain why phospholipids commonly form phospholipid bilayers or liposomes in aqueous environments.
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Answer from Sia
Posted 10 months ago
Answer
Phospholipids commonly form bilayers or liposomes in aqueous environments due to their amphipathic nature, which drives them to organize in a way that shields their hydrophobic tails from water while exposing their hydrophilic heads to water.
Solution
a
Amphipathic nature: Phospholipids have a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and two hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails
b
Bilayer formation: In an aqueous environment, phospholipids arrange themselves into a bilayer with hydrophobic tails facing inward, away from water, and hydrophilic heads facing outward, towards the water
c
Liposome formation: When phospholipids are shaken in water, they can also form spherical vesicles known as liposomes, with an aqueous core enclosed by a phospholipid bilayer
Key Concept
Amphipathic nature of phospholipids
Explanation
The amphipathic nature of phospholipids leads to the formation of bilayers or liposomes in aqueous environments to minimize the energy state by keeping hydrophobic tails away from water and hydrophilic heads in contact with water.

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