Question

The phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane is both hydrophobic and hydrophilic. Why is this important to the function of the membrane? options: (A) To maintain balance of water and nutrients in the cell. (B) To allow cellular bonding. (C) To allow for covalent bonding.

Answer 1

Answer:

(A) To maintain balance of water and nutrients in the cell

Explanation:

According to the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane to describe its structure proposed in 1972, the cell membrane possess components such as phospholipids, proteins and cholesterol. The phospholipid forms a bilayer in biological cell membranes.

The phospholipid bilayer is said to be AMPHIPATHIC i.e. they contain both hydrophobic (water-fearing) and hydrophilic (water-loving) regions. The phosphate head of the phospholipid is the hydrophilic region while the long fatty acid tails that face each other inwardly are the hydrophobic regions.

This amphipathic nature of the cell membrane is important to maintain the balance of water and nutrients in the cell because they control which substance can go in and out of the cell.

Answer 2

The cell membrane separates the intracellular environment from the extracellular environment outside of the cell. A phospholipid is composed of a phosphate group and a lipid. It is composed of a hydrophilic, polar phosphate head and two hydrophobic fatty acid tails.

The structure of the bilayer is such that the tails are shielded from contact with water, creating a selectively-permeable barrier which will be impermeable to most hydrophilic molecules.

So, the answer is A) To maintain balance of water and nutrients in the cell.