In the presence of water, phospholipids do indeed form a bilayer spontaneously. This process occurs due to the amphipathic nature of phospholipids. Here's a breakdown to explain why this happens:
1. Amphipathic Nature: Phospholipids have a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and hydrophobic (water-repelling) tail. When placed in water, the hydrophilic heads interact with water molecules while the hydrophobic tails avoid water, leading to self-assembly.
2. Formation of Bilayer: In an aqueous environment, phospholipids arrange themselves into a bilayer structure. The hydrophobic tails face inward, shielded from water, while the hydrophilic heads face outward, interacting with the water molecules.
3. Spontaneous Formation: This bilayer formation occurs spontaneously without the need for external energy input. It is a fundamental process in cell membrane structure and function.
Therefore, the statement "In the presence of water, phospholipids form a bilayer spontaneously" is true due to the amphipathic nature of phospholipids and their self-assembly into a bilayer structure in aqueous environments.
