Esters Flashcards
What makes up a triglyceride?
One glycerol molecule and three fatty acids
What makes up a glycerol molecule?
Glycerol is a triol, meaning it has an OH group on each of the 3 carbons
How do glycerols and fatty acids combine to form triglycerides?
Through the formation of ester bonds between the glycerol’s OHs and one OH from each of the fatty acid’s carboxyl groups
What type of reaction is esterification?
Condensation
How do you break down triglycerides?
Three water molecules need to be suppled to hydrolyse the ester bonds
What are lipids known as and why?
Macromolecules, as they are large complex molecules not built from monomers (like carbohydrates or DNA)
What are saturated fatty acids?
Fatty acid chains with no double bonds
What are monounsaturated fatty acids?
Fatty acid chains with one double bond
What are polyunsaturated fatty acids?
Fatty acid chains with more than one double bond
What does the presence of double bonds in fatty acid mean?
Causes the molecule to kink/bend, meaning they can’t pack as closely, causing unsaturated fatty acids to be liquid at room temperature (rather than solid)
How do phospholipids differ to triglycerides?
One of the fatty acids is replaced by a phosphate group
What is the structure of a phospholipid?
Hydrophilic (charged) phosphate head, and 2 hydrophobic fatty acid tails
Why will phospholipids form a layer on the surface of water?
The hydrophobic tails will stick out of the water, and the hydrophilic head will be in the water
