alleryStart learning →Within a phospholipid, which part can form hydrogen bonds with water?
AThe fatty acid tail, but not the head
BBoth the head and the fatty acid tail
CNeither the head nor the fatty acid tail
DThe phosphate head, but not the tail
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The phosphate head, but not the tail
1. The phosphate containing head of a phospholipid has a polar character or a negative charge.
2. The fatty acid tail carries no charge and is non-polar.
3. The head can form hydrogen bonds, but the tail cannot.
4. That split is exactly why the tails turn inward and the heads face the watery fluid on both sides.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 5 "Structure and Function of Plasma Membranes", section 5.1 Components and Structure_
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