1.5Lipids Flashcards
What are lipids
Macromolecules and they are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen elements
What are triglycerides
Non-polar: molecule equally charged (e- evenly distributed)
Hydrophobic: repels water/insoluble in water
What is the structure for triglycerides
The monomers: 1 glycerol and 3 fatty acids
Glycerol is an alcohol
What bond join triglycerides?
Ester bonds
What do fatty acids consist of
- Methyl group at one end of hydrocarbon chain and a carboxyl group at the other end of the chain
What are fatty acids also known as
‘R’ Groups
(They are chains of hydrogen bonded to carbon atoms, 4-24 carbons long)
What is the chemical formula for a fatty acid
RCOOH
How can fatty acids vary in two ways
Length of the hydrocarbon chain (R Group), whether the R groups is:
- Saturated (mainly in animals)
- Unsaturated (mainly in vegetable oils)
What do phospholipids consist of
- Glycerol molecule, 2 fatty acids and a phosphate
What parts of the phospholipid are hydrophilic and hydrophobic
The head is hydrophilic (phosphoglycerol)
The tail is hydrophobic (fatty acid tail)
What are phospholipids a key component of
Membranes
Where and how do phospholipids line up
The hydrophilic ‘heads’ are attracted to water in extra celular fluid and in cytoplasm. A bi-layer is formed
