Lipids Flashcards
What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are lipids formed when one glycerol molecule bonds to three fatty acid chains
What bond is formed when fatty acids and glycerol bond?
Ester bond
How many water molecules are released through each triglyceride formation?
3 water molecules
Are triglycerides polymers?
No, they are not polymers
What is a saturated fatty acid?
Saturated means that there are single carbon bonds in the hydrocarbon chain. (clue: s for single)
What is an unsaturated fatty acid?
Unsaturated means that there are one or more double carbon bonds in the hydrocarbon chain.
For 4 marks, compare saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in terms of structure
- Both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids have a hydrocarbon chain.
- In saturated fatty acids, carbon atoms are joined together by single bonds. In unsaturated fatty acids, there are one or more double bonds between carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain.
- The double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids cause the carbon chain to kink. Therefore unsaturated fats cannot pack together tightly.
The single bonds in saturated fatty acids allow them to pack together compactly - They both have low melting and boiling points needed to break weak intermolecular forces
Give an example of a saturated and an unsaturated fatty acid
Saturated = coconut oil/ sausage fat
Unsaturated = olive oil
Explain the 3 different properties of triglycerides
- Non- polar/ hydrophobic- doesn’t affect water potential or osmosis
- Many C-H bonds- good energy store
- Water formed- can be useful
What is a phospholipid?
Phospholipids are lipids formed when one glycerol molecule bonds to two fatty acid chains and one phosphate group
Which parts of phospholipids are hydrophilic and hydrophobic?
The head is hydrophilic.
The tail is hydrophobic.
