Properties of Triglycerides

Question 1

Triglycerides are mainly used as

Answer 1

energy storage molecules

Question 2

This is because the long hydrocarbon tails of the fatty acids in triglycerides contain large amounts of

Answer 2

chemical energy, which can be released when the fatty acids are broken down

Question 3

Triglycerides are also suitable as energy storage molecules because they are

Answer 3

insoluble, meaning that they don’t affect the water potential inside the cell

Question 4

Inside cells, triglycerides form

Answer 4

insoluble droplets, with the hydrophobic (water-repelling) fatty acids on the inside and the glycerol molecules on the outside