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shaina716 shaina716
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11 years ago

    

    Formation of a lipid bilayer might seem to be energetically unfavorable. However, this arrangement is actually favored because it allows a higher level of entropy than any other alternative. What makes bilayer formation energetically favorable?

    Answer
       A.    
    Water molecules form cage-like structures around hydrophobic molecules.
       B.    
     Fatty acid tails are highly saturated and flexible.
       C.    
     Polar head groups form a hydrogen bonding network at the interface with water.
       D.    
    Hydrogen bonds form between neighboring polar head groups in the bilayer.
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wrote...
11 years ago
(b)   Water molecules form cage-like structures around hydrophobic molecules.

The hydrophobic effect- this causes the hydrophobic tails to come together.
This is the strongest force driving the formation of the bilayer. It is a consequence of the increased entropy in water molecules when non polar substances are aggregated in water.
wrote...
Educator
11 years ago
It relies completely on the hydrophobic properties of the phospholipid 'tails' and as such requires no energy at all to maintain other than the energy used to assemble the phospholipid in the first place.
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