Phospholipids

[akatalitha]

Why doesn't the hydrophilic head on the outside of a cell membrane dissolve? Being hydrophilic means that it is easily dissolved in water and/or has an affinity, so it would make sense to me that the head would dissolve in any solvent, so why doesn't it?
Thanks for the help.

[Cat]

You need to realize that you are talking about a single molecule and not about something that can fall apart easily.

[akatalitha]

So I asked other biology students in my class, and they said that just because the head is hydrophilic doesn't mean that it will dissolve. Also the head is attached to a hydrophobic fatty acid, which is another reason why it won't dissolve.
Their answers make sense, but I'd like to know if that is true.
Thank You

[Cat]

Please, read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phospholipid

[JackBean]

akatalitha: they are exactly correct