1.4.2 Phospholipids

• What are phospholipids important structural components of?

  Cell membranes
• Phospholipids are composed of a glycerol backbone attached to two fatty acids and a phosphate
• Phospholipids have a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails.
• What is the central structural unit of a phospholipid?

  Glycerol backbone
• The fatty acids in phospholipids form the hydrophobic tails.
• The polar head of a phospholipid includes a phosphate group and glycerol.
• Match the property with the correct part of a phospholipid:

  Polarity ↔️ Polar head

  Composition ↔️ Fatty acids

  Water interaction ↔️ Hydrophobic tails
• What term describes the dual nature of phospholipids with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions?

  Amphipathic
• In a lipid bilayer, the hydrophobic tails of phospholipids face outward towards water.

  False
• The phosphate group in phospholipids forms a hydrophilic head.
• Match the component of a phospholipid with its property:

  Hydrophilic head ↔️ Polar

  Hydrophobic tails ↔️ Nonpolar
• Which part of a phospholipid is nonpolar and hydrophobic?

  Fatty acids
• What are the three main components of a phospholipid molecule?

  Glycerol backbone, fatty acids, phosphate group
• The fatty acid tails of a phospholipid are hydrophobic
• Phospholipids form a lipid bilayer in cell membranes due to their dual hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions.
• Match the phospholipid component with its property and water interaction:

  Hydrophilic Head ↔️ Polar, Hydrophilic

  Hydrophobic Tails ↔️ Nonpolar, Hydrophobic
• The phosphate group in a phospholipid forms its hydrophilic head.
• The hydrophobic tails of phospholipids repel water.
• What part of a phospholipid molecule interacts with water?

  Hydrophilic head
• The fatty acid tails of phospholipids are nonpolar and therefore hydrophobic.
• Phospholipids have a polar head and nonpolar tails.
• Match the property with the corresponding region of a phospholipid:

  Polarity ↔️ Polar Head ||| Nonpolar Tails

  Water Interaction ↔️ Hydrophilic ||| Hydrophobic
• What term describes a molecule with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions?

  Amphipathic
• When placed in water, phospholipids spontaneously form a bilayer structure.
• The hydrophobic tails of phospholipids are shielded from water in a lipid bilayer.