What kind of tail do phospholipids possess?

Phospholipids possess a unique structure that includes a hydrophobic (nonpolar) tail and a hydrophilic (polar) head. The tail is composed of long fatty acid chains, which do not interact favorably with water, making them nonpolar. This characteristic is crucial for the formation of biological membranes.

When phospholipids are in an aqueous environment, they arrange themselves into bilayers, with the hydrophilic heads facing outward towards the water and the nonpolar tails pointing inward, away from the water. This arrangement is fundamental to the structural integrity and function of cell membranes.

Thus, the description of the tail in phospholipids is best characterized as nonpolar, focusing on its interaction with water and its role in membrane dynamics.