Question

Can you explain how the solubility of polar and nonpolar molecules in water sets up cell membranes and dissolves essential biochemicals?

Answer 1

cell membranes are made up, generally, of phospholipids, which are amphiphilic molecules (have, both, polar and non-polar ends). The phospholipid heads that are polar associate with water while the non-polar tails tend to move away from the water molecules. So, when these are dispersed in water, they gravitate towards another to maximize entropy (minimizing the surface area in contact with water molecules). This causes the lipids to aggregate into micelles.

Answer 2

Water is polar covalently bonded within the molecule. This unequal sharing of the electrons results in a slightly positive and a slightly negative side of the molecule. Other molecules, such as Ethane, are nonpolar, having neither a positive nor a negative side.Water has been referred to as the universal solvent. Living things are composed of atoms and molecules within aqueous solutions (solutions that have materials dissolved in water). Solutions are uniform mixtures of the molecules of two or more substances. The solvent is usually the substance present in the greatest amount (and is usually also a liquid). The substances of lesser amounts are the solutes.

The solubility of many molecules is determined by their molecular structure. You are familiar with the phrase "mixing like oil and water." The biochemical basis for this phrase is that the organic macromolecules known as lipids (of which fats are an important, although often troublesome, group) have areas that lack polar covalent bonds. The polar covalently bonded water molecules act to exclude nonpolar molecules, causing the fats to clump together. The structure of many molecules can greatly influence their solubility. Sugars, such as glucose, have many hydroxyl (OH) groups, which tend to increase the solubility of the molecule. This aspect of water is illustrated in Figure 4.

Answer 3

thats a good answer, but please cite when you copy and paste