Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry
Micelle:
A globular or roughly spherical structure composed of
organic
molecules
so their
nonpolar
ends are oriented toward the interior of the aggregate and the
polar
ends are oriented away from the interior.
Cross section of an idealized spherical micelle formed from
fatty acid
carboxylates
.
Related terms:
Hydrophobic effect
,
emulsion
,
lipid
,
noncovalent molecular forces
,
soap
,
phospholipid
,
phospholipid bilayer
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