Soap or detergent has hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties that are similar to which type of biological molecule?

1 Answer
reudhreghs
Apr 5, 2016

Phospholipids.

Explanation:

Lipids are a type of biological molecule that are derivatives of fatty acids. An important type of lipid is the triglyceride, where three fatty acids are joined to a glycerol backbone. Lipids are not soluble in water, only in other organic solvents, and are hydrophobic.

Phospholipids are different to triglycerides. They are a type of lipid that, instead of having three fatty acids, has two fatty acids and a phosphate (#P_i#) group.

Since phosphate is hydrophillic, it can dissolve with water, while the rest of the molecule can't.

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