Lipids

Question 1

What are triglycerides

Answer 1

Triglycerides are macromolecules that contain the chemical elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

Question 2

what are triglycerides composed of

Answer 2

triglycerides have one molecule of glycerol with three fatty acids attached to it

Fatty acid molecules have long tails made of hydrocarbons,
these tails are hydrophobic, they make lipids insoluble in water
All fatty acids have the same basic structure, but the hydrocarbon tail varies

Question 3

what are triglycerides synthesised by?

Answer 3

Triglycerides are synthesised by the formation of an ester bond between each fatty acid and the glycerol molecule

Question 4

what are ester bonds in triglycerides formed by

Answer 4

Ester bond is formed by a condensation reaction (which a water molecule is released)

Question 5

process in which triglycerides are synthesised

Answer 5

Esterification

Question 6

How are triglyceride’s broken down

Answer 6

Triglycerides break down when the ester bonds are broken, each ester bond is broken in a hydrolysis reaction(water molecule is used up)

Question 7

Fatty acids can be saturated or unsaturated, what’s the difference between them?

Answer 7

The difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is the difference in their hydrocarbons tails

Saturated fatty acids don’t have any double bonds between their carbon atoms

Unsaturated fatty acids have at least one double bond between carbon atoms.

Question 8

What are phospholipids composed of?

Answer 8

one glycerol molcule
2 fatty acid chains (hydrophobic)
a phosphate group (hydrophilic)