Lipids Flashcards
(21 cards)
which part of a phospholipid I hydrophilic?
the phosphate head
which part of the phospholipid is hydrophobic?
the fatty acid tails
how many fatty acid tails does a triglyceride have?
3
what is a triglyceride used for?
energy storage, insulation and protection
where are triglycerides found?
in fatty acid issue under skin and around organs
what are lipids good for?
energy storage
what is another name for lipids?
fats or oils
what makes a fatty acid saturated?
it is formed in straight chains that line up against each other so form attractions between all the molecules. this means there is more energy to break the bonds meaning saturated fats are solid at room temperature.
what makes a fatty acid unsaturated?
it is formed in bent chains so cant lay flat on top of each other and therefor can’t form bonds between each other. this means there is less bonds to break so less energy is needed. this means that they are liquid at room temperature
what does organic mean?
it means that substance ahs carbon in it
what is the most common type of lipid?
triglyceride
what do triglycerides contain?
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (higher carbon, lower oxygen)
what bond is formed between the glycerol head and the fatty acid tails?
ester bond
what is the process called when a bond is formed between the fatty acid tails and the glycerol head?
esterification
what reaction takes place to bond the fatty acid to the glycerol head?
condensation
what reaction would need to occur to separate the glycerol head from the fatty acid tails?
hydrolysis
what structure do lipids form?
a bilayer structure
describe how the lipids are placed in the bilayer.
the hydrophilic phosphate head is placed oh the outside of the bilayer and the hydrophobic fatty acid tails are placed on the inside of the head
what role does cholesterol play?
formation of membranes
where is cholesterol found?
it is positioned between phospholipids adding stability
what is the function of cholesterol?
regulates the membrane fluidity. it stops them from becoming too fluid at high temperature and increases fluidity at low temperatures
