Question

In a phospholipid, which components constitute the hydrophilic head? Select the correct answer below: Question 1 options: amino-alcohol modified phosphate, ester groups, and glycerol fatty acid and glycerol phosphate and fatty acid only the amino alcohol that modifies the phosphate group

Answer 1

Answer: Option (a) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

A lipid that contains a phosphate group in its molecule is known as a phospholipid.

These are the primary molecules present in a plasma membrane. These tend to contain two hydrophobic fatty acid tails and one hydrophilic head.

Hydrophilic means water loving in nature.

As phosphate group is a polar group due to this the hydrophilic region present in a phospholipid is able to interact with water.

In an amino-alcohol modified phosphate, ester groups, and glycerol, the glycerol is hydrophobic in nature. It also contains two fatty acids and a phosphoric acid which are present as ester. The polar head that mainly consists of phosphate group is hydrophilic and thus, it helps in combining to a water molecules.

Hence, we can conclude that in a phospholipid, amino-alcohol modified phosphate, ester groups, and glycerol are the components which constitute the hydrophilic head.