The Term Phospholipid Can Best Be Described by Which of the Following

Question

The term phospholipid can best be described by which of the following?
A) a nonpolar lipid molecule that is made polar by the addition of a phosphate
B) a polar lipid molecule that fully interacts with water
C) a nonpolar lipid molecule that is made amphipathic by the addition of a phosphate
D) a polar lipid molecule that fully repels water

Accepted Answer

Phospholipids consist of a nonpolar fatty acid tail and a polar phosphate-containing head. The addition of a phosphate group makes the molecule amphipathic, having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts. This allows the phospholipids to form the bilayer structure of cell membranes.