Chapter 17: Lipids and Their Functions in Biochemical
Systems
1. What is the common name for the fatty acid with the condensed structure shown below?
CH3(CH2)10COOH
A) lauric acid
B) oleic acid
C) capric acid
D) linoleic acid
E) arachidonic acid
Ans: A
2. Which statement concerning the structure of a fatty acid is FALSE?
A) Fatty acids are naturally occurring, long-chain carboxylic acids.
B) The carbon chain in a fatty acid may be branched or unbranched.
C) Fatty acids generally contain an even number of carbons.
D) The carbon chain in a fatty acid may be saturated or unsaturated.
E) When present in fatty acids, C=C bonds are usually cis.
Ans: B
3. Which of the following is NOT classified as a type of eicosanoid?
A) steroids
B) prostaglandins
C) thromboxanes
D) leukotrienes
E) All are considered eicosanoids.
Ans: A
4. What response is caused by the prostaglandins produced in the kidneys?
A) stimulation of ovulation
B) smooth muscle contractions
C) dilation of renal blood vessels
D) constriction of blood vessels and aggregation of platelets
E) water retention and weight gain
Ans: C
5. Which eicosanoids produced by white blood cells can cause bronchial constriction?
A) prostaglandins
B) fatty acids
C) bile salts
D) leukotrienes
E) steroids
Ans: D
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, Chapter 17 Lipids and Their Functions in Biochemical Systems
6. Which statement best describes how lipids are defined?
A) Lipids are biomolecules that contain the ester functional group.
B) Lipids are biomolecules that contain fatty acids.
C) Lipids are biomolecules that have negative effects on a person’s health.
D) Lipids are biomolecules that are solids at room temperature.
E) Lipids are structurally diverse biomolecules that are soluble in nonpolar solvents and
insoluble in water.
Ans: E
7. The structure of a phosphoglyceride is shown below. Phosphoglycerides can interact
with both water and other lipids, and are therefore well suited for their role in the lipid
bilayer of cell membranes. Which of the following best explains this behavior?
A) Phosphoglycerides contain a phosphate diester.
B) Phosphoglycerides contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions.
C) Phosphoglycerides contain saturated fatty acids as well as unsaturated fatty acids.
D) Phosphoglycerides contain both single bonds and double bonds between carbons.
E) Phosphoglycerides contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Ans: B
8. Which of the following statements concerning lipid functions is NOT true?
A) The human body uses triglycerides for long-term energy storage, insulation, and
protection.
B) Plants and animals use waxes as water barriers.
C) Phosphoglycerides are key components of the structure of cell membranes.
D) Steroids function as messenger molecules that enable cell-cell communication.
E) All statements concerning lipid functions are true.
Ans: E
9. What is the most abundant class of membrane lipids?
A) prostaglandins
B) triglycerides
C) waxes
D) phosphoglycerides
E) eicosanoids
Ans: D
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, Chapter 17 Lipids and Their Functions in Biochemical Systems
10. What nitrogen-containing alcohol forms the backbone of the sphingolipids?
A) ethanolamine
B) ammonia
C) aniline
D) cortisol
E) sphingosine
Ans: E
11. Consider the compound represented below. Which of the following best describes it?
A) It is a nonpolar amino acid.
B) It is a triglyceride.
C) It is a soap.
D) It is an unsaturated fatty acid.
E) It is an omega-3 wax.
Ans: D
12. Cetyl palmitate is a component of spermaceti wax, isolated from the heads of sperm
whales, and used in cosmetics. In which solvent would cetyl palmitate be expected to
have the greatest solubility?
A) acetic acid (CH3COOH)
B) ethyl alcohol (CH3CH2OH)
C) petroleum ether (a mixture of liquid alkanes)
D) water
E) 5% NaCl(aq)
Ans: C
13. The ingredients on a box of cupcakes lists partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Partial
hydrogenation of soybean oil has what effect?
A) It produces fatty acid salts from the triglycerides that are present.
B) It decreases the percentage of unsaturation present in the fatty acid side chains.
C) It hydrolyzes the triglycerides that are present.
D) It increases the number of fatty acids present.
E) It converts the soybean oil to butter.
Ans: B
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Systems
1. What is the common name for the fatty acid with the condensed structure shown below?
CH3(CH2)10COOH
A) lauric acid
B) oleic acid
C) capric acid
D) linoleic acid
E) arachidonic acid
Ans: A
2. Which statement concerning the structure of a fatty acid is FALSE?
A) Fatty acids are naturally occurring, long-chain carboxylic acids.
B) The carbon chain in a fatty acid may be branched or unbranched.
C) Fatty acids generally contain an even number of carbons.
D) The carbon chain in a fatty acid may be saturated or unsaturated.
E) When present in fatty acids, C=C bonds are usually cis.
Ans: B
3. Which of the following is NOT classified as a type of eicosanoid?
A) steroids
B) prostaglandins
C) thromboxanes
D) leukotrienes
E) All are considered eicosanoids.
Ans: A
4. What response is caused by the prostaglandins produced in the kidneys?
A) stimulation of ovulation
B) smooth muscle contractions
C) dilation of renal blood vessels
D) constriction of blood vessels and aggregation of platelets
E) water retention and weight gain
Ans: C
5. Which eicosanoids produced by white blood cells can cause bronchial constriction?
A) prostaglandins
B) fatty acids
C) bile salts
D) leukotrienes
E) steroids
Ans: D
Page 173
, Chapter 17 Lipids and Their Functions in Biochemical Systems
6. Which statement best describes how lipids are defined?
A) Lipids are biomolecules that contain the ester functional group.
B) Lipids are biomolecules that contain fatty acids.
C) Lipids are biomolecules that have negative effects on a person’s health.
D) Lipids are biomolecules that are solids at room temperature.
E) Lipids are structurally diverse biomolecules that are soluble in nonpolar solvents and
insoluble in water.
Ans: E
7. The structure of a phosphoglyceride is shown below. Phosphoglycerides can interact
with both water and other lipids, and are therefore well suited for their role in the lipid
bilayer of cell membranes. Which of the following best explains this behavior?
A) Phosphoglycerides contain a phosphate diester.
B) Phosphoglycerides contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions.
C) Phosphoglycerides contain saturated fatty acids as well as unsaturated fatty acids.
D) Phosphoglycerides contain both single bonds and double bonds between carbons.
E) Phosphoglycerides contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Ans: B
8. Which of the following statements concerning lipid functions is NOT true?
A) The human body uses triglycerides for long-term energy storage, insulation, and
protection.
B) Plants and animals use waxes as water barriers.
C) Phosphoglycerides are key components of the structure of cell membranes.
D) Steroids function as messenger molecules that enable cell-cell communication.
E) All statements concerning lipid functions are true.
Ans: E
9. What is the most abundant class of membrane lipids?
A) prostaglandins
B) triglycerides
C) waxes
D) phosphoglycerides
E) eicosanoids
Ans: D
Page 174
, Chapter 17 Lipids and Their Functions in Biochemical Systems
10. What nitrogen-containing alcohol forms the backbone of the sphingolipids?
A) ethanolamine
B) ammonia
C) aniline
D) cortisol
E) sphingosine
Ans: E
11. Consider the compound represented below. Which of the following best describes it?
A) It is a nonpolar amino acid.
B) It is a triglyceride.
C) It is a soap.
D) It is an unsaturated fatty acid.
E) It is an omega-3 wax.
Ans: D
12. Cetyl palmitate is a component of spermaceti wax, isolated from the heads of sperm
whales, and used in cosmetics. In which solvent would cetyl palmitate be expected to
have the greatest solubility?
A) acetic acid (CH3COOH)
B) ethyl alcohol (CH3CH2OH)
C) petroleum ether (a mixture of liquid alkanes)
D) water
E) 5% NaCl(aq)
Ans: C
13. The ingredients on a box of cupcakes lists partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Partial
hydrogenation of soybean oil has what effect?
A) It produces fatty acid salts from the triglycerides that are present.
B) It decreases the percentage of unsaturation present in the fatty acid side chains.
C) It hydrolyzes the triglycerides that are present.
D) It increases the number of fatty acids present.
E) It converts the soybean oil to butter.
Ans: B
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