What are the components of a phospholipid molecule?

What are the components of a phospholipid molecule?

Phospholipids are abundant in all biological membranes. A phospholipid molecule is constructed from four components: fatty acids, a platform to which the fatty acids are attached, a phosphate, and an alcohol attached to the phosphate (Figure 12.3).

What are two components in a phospholipid?

Phospholipids consist of a glycerol molecule, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group that is modified by an alcohol. The phosphate group is the negatively-charged polar head, which is hydrophilic. The fatty acid chains are the uncharged, nonpolar tails, which are hydrophobic.

What is not a component of phospholipid molecule?

D. Phosphate group. C is correct. Each phospholipid is made up of a phosphate group head and two fatty acid tails that are connected by a glycerol molecule. Deoxyribose is not part of phospholipids; it is the 5-carbon sugar found in DNA.

What is the structure of a phospholipid?

In general, phospholipids are composed of a phosphate group, two alcohols, and one or two fatty acids. On one end of the molecule are the phosphate group and one alcohol; this end is polar, i.e., has an electric charge, and is attracted to water (hydrophilic).

What does a phospholipid look like?

1: A phospholipid consists of a head and a tail. The “head” of the molecule contains the phosphate group and is hydrophilic, meaning that it will dissolve in water. The “tail” of the molecule is made up of two fatty acids, which are hydrophobic and do not dissolve in water.

What is the main component of the phospholipid bilayer?

The principal components of the plasma membrane are lipids (phospholipids and cholesterol), proteins, and carbohydrate groups that are attached to some of the lipids and proteins. A phospholipid is a lipid made of glycerol, two fatty acid tails, and a phosphate-linked head group.

How is a phospholipid formed?

Phospholipids are mostly made from glycerides by substituting one of the three fatty acids by a phosphate group with some other molecule attached to its end. Phospholipids are the major component of cell membrane to form lipid bilayers.

What is the structure and function of the phospholipid bilayer?

Phospholipid bilayers are critical components of cell membranes. The lipid bilayer acts as a barrier to the passage of molecules and ions into and out of the cell. However, an important function of the cell membrane is to allow selective passage of certain substances into and out of cells.

Which best describes the structure of a phospholipid?

The phospholipid is an amphiphatic molecule having hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head. The fatty acid chains are uncharged and non-polar while the phosphate head is polar and negatively charged. Hence, the correct answer is ‘a glycerol molecule between two fatty acid chains’.

What makes up the head of a phospholipid?

Phospholipids consist of a glycerol molecule, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group that is modified by an alcohol describe the phospholipid head The phosphate group is the negatively-charged polar head, which is hydrophilic. Since the heads are hydrophilic, they face outward and are attracted to the intracellular and extracellular fluid.

How are phospholipids and lipids alike and different?

Phospholipids Similar to lipids except only two fatty acids and one phosphate molecule. Unlike fatty acids are hydrophilic. Phospholipid is therefore made up of two parts 1. Hydrophilic “head” which interacts with water but not with fat. 2. Hydrophobic “tail” which orients itself away from water but mixes readily with fat. Polar molecules

Which is the negatively-charged polar head of a phospholipid?

The phosphate group is the negatively-charged polar head, which is hydrophilic. Since the heads are hydrophilic, they face outward and are attracted to the intracellular and extracellular fluid. describe the phospholipid tail The fatty acid chains are the uncharged, nonpolar tails, which are hydrophobic.

How are phospholipids able to form a bilayer of cell membranes?

Explain how the structure of phospholipids makes them able to form the bilayer of cell membranes. – Phospholipid heads are hydrophilic and their tails are hydrophobic, so they form a bilayer with their heads facing outwards and their tails facing inwards towards the water on either side.