Question

Why do phospholipids form a bilayer in water?

Answer 1

I think it has something to do with their polar-nonpolar makeup.  They have a polar head and a nonpolar tail.  Only the polar side bonds with water, so they form two layers so that the polar sides can stick out and bond with the water, while the nonpolar tails can face each other.  Imagine this:
p------n n------p
p------n n------p
And outside the double layer are water molecules bonding with the polar part:
wwww p------n n------p wwww
wwww p------n n------p wwww

Answer 2

Phospholipids form a bilayer in water because of the shape and amphipathic nature of the lipid molecules

Further explanation

Phospholipids are a class of lipids, it are a major component of all cell membranes. Phospholipids are the shape and amphipathic nature of the lipid molecules that cause them to form bilayers spontaneously in aqueous environments. The most abundant membrane lipids are the phospholipids.

Phospholipids form a bilayer in water because of the shape and amphipathic nature of the lipid molecules. Phospholipids shape are cylindrical and the phospholipid molecules spontaneously form bilayers in aqueous environments. All of the lipid molecules in cell membranes are amphipathic. Amphipatic is the condition where phospholipids have a hydrophilic (water-loving) or polar end and a hydrophobic (water-fearing) or nonpolar end. The structure of the phospholipid molecule consists of two hydrophobic fatty acid "tails" and a hydrophilic "head". Phospholipids arrange themselves into two parallel layers called a phospholipid bilayer. The lipid bilayer or phospholipid bilayer is a thin polar membrane which is made of two layers of lipid molecules. This layer makes up the cell membranes and is critical to the ability of cell's function.

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Answer details

Grade:  9

Subject:  biology

Chapter:  phospholipids

Keywords:  phospholipids