Question

Why tails of lipids in the membrane are towards inner part?

• A. The tails is non-polar hydrocarbon and so, protected with an aqueous environment
• B. The tail is polar hydrocarbon and so, is protected from aqueous environment
• C. The non-polar or hydrophobic hydrocarbon trails of lipid, being on inner side ensure their protection from aqueous environment.
• D. The tail is hydrophilic so, it tends to be located in the aqueous inner side of membrane

Answer 1

The correct option is C The non-polar or hydrophobic hydrocarbon trails of lipid, being on inner side ensure their protection from aqueous environment.

The tails of the lipids are made up of fatty acids. These are non-polar hydrophobic so they tend to arrange away from the cytoplasmic face as well as the extracellular face. So, they avoid aqueous medium by arranging themselves towards the inner part of the cell membrane.

Hence, the correct answer is 'The non-polar or hydrophobic hydrocarbons tails of lipid, being on inner side ensure their protection from the aqueous environment.