The question is incomplete. The complete question is as follows:
Imagine a new type of cell was discovered on Mars in an organism growing in benzene, a nonpolar liquid. The cell had a lipid bilayer made of phospholipids, but its structure was very different from that of our cell membrane.
Describe what might be a possible structure for this new type of membrane.
A. This membrane would have the polar groups on the two surfaces facing the nonpolar solvent, and it would have a hydrophobic interior.
B. This membrane would have the polar groups on the two surfaces facing the nonpolar solvent, and it would have a hydrophilic interior.
C. This membrane would have the nonpolar groups on the two surfaces facing the nonpolar solvent, and it would have a hydrophobic interior.
D. This membrane would have the nonpolar groups on the two surfaces facing the nonpolar solvent, and it would have a hydrophilic interior.
Answer:
D. This membrane would have the nonpolar groups on the two surfaces facing the nonpolar solvent, and it would have a hydrophilic interior.
Explanation:
As per the description of the membrane, the membrane is made up of phospholipid and phospholipid are consist of two hydrophobic tails (non-polar) and one hydrophillic (polar) head.
As the cell membrane is growing in a non-polar liquid, benzene, the non-polar groups or hydrophobic tails will face the nonpolar solvent, as it will repel by the hydrophillic interior and polar head will face the interior of the memebrane.
Hence, the correct answer is D.
