If we place living cells in a nonpolar solvent like methane or ethane,
A) their membranes will thicken, preventing molecular transport across the membrane
B) they will rapidly explode due to pressure caused by the solvent building up inside the cell
C) their membranes will most likely dissolve as cell membranes are also nonpolar
D) they will function in much the same way as they do in water

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cell membranes are primarily composed of phospholipids, which have both polar and nonpolar regions. However, the nonpolar solvent would interact with the nonpolar tails of the phospholipids, potentially dissolving the membrane rather than the membrane dissolving because it's nonpolar. The correct concept is that the nonpolar solvent disrupts the membrane's structure, but saying it dissolves because the membrane is nonpolar is a simplification. Nonpolar solvents disrupt the lipid bilayer by interacting with the nonpolar tails of the phospholipids, leading to destabilization and potential dissolution of the membrane.

If We Place Living Cells in a Nonpolar Solvent Like