Which statement must be mentioned in explaining why amphipathic molecules line
up at a water surface?
The following statement must be mentioned in explaining why amphipathic
molecules line up at a water surface:
Amphipathic molecules line up at a water surface because of their dual nature:
they have both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-hating)
regions.
When an amphipathic molecule is placed in water, its hydrophilic region is
attracted to the water molecules, while its hydrophobic region is repelled by
the water molecules. This causes the amphipathic molecule to orient itself so
that its hydrophilic region is facing the water and its hydrophobic region is
facing away from the water.
At the water surface, amphipathic molecules line up with their hydrophilic
heads facing the water and their hydrophobic tails pointing away from the
water. This creates a barrier that prevents water from evaporating too quickly
and also prevents dust and other contaminants from entering the water.
Amphipathic molecules are also found in many biological systems, such as cell
membranes and detergents. In cell membranes, amphipathic molecules form a
bilayer structure, with their hydrophilic heads facing the water on both sides
of the membrane and their hydrophobic tails facing each other in the middle.
This bilayer structure protects the cell from its environment and allows it to
regulate the passage of substances into and out of the cell.
In detergents, amphipathic molecules help to remove dirt and oil from
surfaces. The hydrophilic heads of the detergent molecules are attracted to
the water, while the hydrophobic tails are attracted to the dirt and oil. This
causes the dirt and oil to be suspended in the water so that they can be
washed away.
In conclusion, amphipathic molecules line up at a water surface because of
their dual nature: they have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. This
allows them to form barriers that protect water from evaporating and
contaminants from entering, and it also allows them to help remove dirt and
oil from surfaces.
