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Fats
Introducing lipids and triglycerides:
Lipids are organic molecules with 2 main types- triglycerides and
phospholipids.
Triglycerides and phospholipids have different but important roles:
Triglycerides are a good source of energy
Phospholipids have a structural role in the cell membrane
Lipids are mostly compsed of carbon and hydrogen with some oxygen-
hydrocarbon chains found in it
Lipids are large, complex molecules (macromolecules) but they are not
polymers.
Lipids are also non-polar molecules and therefore they will not dissolve in
water.
Structure of triglycerides:
1 glycerol, 3 fatty acids
Glycerol is an organic alcohol with 3 hydroxyl (-OH) groups
Fatty acids are organic acids that have a carbocyl (-COOH) group joined to a
hydrocarbon tail- they are a type of carboxylic acid.
The letter R is often used to represent the hydrocarbon tail.
Fats 1
, Ester bonding in triglycerides:
A triglyceride molecule is formed by joining one molecule of glycerol to 3 fatty
acids through condensation reactions.
A condensation reaction forms water as one oxygen atom and two hydrogen
atoms are removed from the glycerol and fatty acid
Fats 2
Fats
Introducing lipids and triglycerides:
Lipids are organic molecules with 2 main types- triglycerides and
phospholipids.
Triglycerides and phospholipids have different but important roles:
Triglycerides are a good source of energy
Phospholipids have a structural role in the cell membrane
Lipids are mostly compsed of carbon and hydrogen with some oxygen-
hydrocarbon chains found in it
Lipids are large, complex molecules (macromolecules) but they are not
polymers.
Lipids are also non-polar molecules and therefore they will not dissolve in
water.
Structure of triglycerides:
1 glycerol, 3 fatty acids
Glycerol is an organic alcohol with 3 hydroxyl (-OH) groups
Fatty acids are organic acids that have a carbocyl (-COOH) group joined to a
hydrocarbon tail- they are a type of carboxylic acid.
The letter R is often used to represent the hydrocarbon tail.
Fats 1
, Ester bonding in triglycerides:
A triglyceride molecule is formed by joining one molecule of glycerol to 3 fatty
acids through condensation reactions.
A condensation reaction forms water as one oxygen atom and two hydrogen
atoms are removed from the glycerol and fatty acid
Fats 2