Lipids

Question 1

What does a fat molecule consist of?

Answer 1

A glycerol backbone and 3 fatty acids tails.

Question 2

What is glycerol?

Answer 2

It’s a small organic molecule with hydroxyl (OH) groups.

Question 3

What do fatty acids consist of ?

Answer 3

It consist of a long hydrocarbon attached to a carboxyl group. A typical fatty acid consist of 12-18 carbons.

Question 4

Are fatty acids soluble or insoluble in water?

Answer 4

Insoluble

Question 5

How do you make a fat molecule?

Answer 5

The hydroxyl groups on the glycerol backbone react with the carboxyl groups of fatty acids in a condensation reaction.

Question 6

What type of bond is formed when a glycerol molecule bonds with a fatty acid tails?

Answer 6

Ester bond

Question 7

What type of reaction breaks up a triglycerides molecule?

Answer 7

Hydrolysis

Question 8

What is a Triglyceride made up of?

Answer 8

Glycerol and 3 fatty acids

Question 9

Which part of the fatty acid is hydrophobic?

Answer 9

Hydrocarbon tail

Question 10

Are saturated fatty acid tails straight or not and what purpose does it serve?

Answer 10

Saturated fatty acids tails are straight, so fat molecules with fully saturated tails can pack tightly against one another. This tight packing results in fats that are solid at room temperature