Lipids

Overview

Triglycerides and phospholipids and what they are built from, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, why fat stores so much energy per unit mass, and the role of cholesterol.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What are the components of a triglyceride?

   Model answer

   One glycerol molecule bonded to three fatty acid molecules.

2. 2

   What are the components of a phospholipid?

   Model answer

   One glycerol molecule bonded to two fatty acids and one phosphate group.

3. 3

   What is a saturated fatty acid?

   Model answer

   A fatty acid with no carbon-carbon double bonds in its hydrocarbon chain, allowing the chains to pack closely together.

4. 4

   What is an unsaturated fatty acid?

   Model answer

   A fatty acid with one or more carbon-carbon double bonds in its hydrocarbon chain, causing kinks that prevent close packing.

5. 5

   How are triglycerides synthesised?

   Model answer

   By condensation reactions that form ester bonds between the hydroxyl groups of glycerol and the carboxyl groups of fatty acids.

6. 6

   How are triglycerides broken down?

   Model answer

   By hydrolysis reactions that break the ester bonds, releasing glycerol and fatty acids.

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