Question

what is a hydrophobic tail of a cell membrane?

Answer 1

• The plasma membrane has two layers of phospholipids (fats + phosphorous).
• Each phospholipid molecule has a head that is attracted to water (hydrophilic- water loving) and a tail that repels water (hydrophobic - water hating).
• The bilayers of the plasma membrane have the hydrophilic heads and the hydrophobic tails.
• When the phopholipids are mixed with water, the plasma membrane forms a circle around each cell so that the water-loving heads are in contact with the fluid, and the water-fearing tails are sticking out.