Lipids Flashcards
What are triglycerides composed of?
glycerol with three molecules
What are fatty acids?
molecules with long tails made of hydrocarbons. the tails are hydrophobic, which makes them insoluble in water.
Define hydrophobic
“water hating” they repel water molecules
How are triglycerides formed?
by a condensation reaction.
What bond is formed between a fatty acid and glycerol?
a ester bond
What is the diffrence between a saturated fatty acid and a unsaturated fatty acid?
saturated fatty acids don’t have any double bonds between their carbons wheras unstaturaed fatty acids have at least one double bond.
What are the lipids found in cell membranes called?
phospholipids
What is the diffence between a phospholipd and a triglyceride?
one of the faty acid molecules are replaced with a phosphate group
What are the properties of the phosphate group in a phospholipid?
it is hydrophillic
Define hydrophillic
“water loving” attracts water
What are triglycerides mainly used for?
as energy storage molecules
What do the long hydrocarbon tails of the fatty acid contain?
chemical energy, lots of energy is released when they are broken down, twice as much as a carbohydrate
What are the benefits of being insoluble in water?
don’t affect water potential
What is used to test for lipids?
ethanol
What is a postive test for a lipid?
a milky emulsion
