In water, fatty acid molecules will self-organize into a sphere in which the hydrophilic ends point outward to interact with the aqueous environment, and the fatty acid tails point inward.What occurs when this sphere surrounds an inner core of water?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When fatty acid molecules in water surround an inner core of water, they form a structure where the hydrophilic ends of a second layer point toward the inner core, and the hydrophobic tails point outward, aligning with the tails of the first layer. This arrangement minimizes the energy by keeping hydrophobic tails away from water and hydrophilic heads in contact with water, both inside and outside the sphere, leading to the formation of a bilayer, similar to the structure of cell membranes.

In Water, Fatty Acid Molecules Will Self-Organize into a Sphere