Lipids

• What are the differences between fats and oils?


  Fats are solid at room temp whereas oils are liquids. Fats are usually saturated whereas oils are unsaturated.
• Triglycerides


  A type of lipid that consists of three fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol molecule, the main component of fats and oils.
• Phospholipids


  A type of lipid that has a phosphate group attached to a glycerol molecule, a key component of cell membranes.
• Steroids


  A type of lipid that includes cholesterol, hormones, and vitamins, involved in hormone production and regulation.
• The lipid function that reduces heat loss?

  Thermal insulation
• The lipid function that helps speed up impulses in the neurones

  Electrical insulation
• What are lipids a source of that help animals respire?


  Energy source
• What function of lipids make them useful for later energy use?

  Energy store
• What type of hormone do lipids create?


  Steroid
• What use does lipids being good at waterproofing have on plants?

  They form a waxy cuticle on a leaf.
• Which biological molecule creates a biological membrane?


  Lipids
• Why are lipids insoluble in water?


  They are non-polar
• What are lipids soluble in?

  Organic substances such as alcohols and acetone
• What elements are in lipids?


  Carbon, oxygen and hydrogen
• Triglyceride


  A type of biological molecule composed of glycerol and three fatty acid chains, serving as the primary form of energy storage in the body.
• Lipids are bonded in a condensation reaction. Where water is removed.
• The bond between lipids is called an ESTER bond
• Are triglycerides hydrophobic or hydrophilic?

  Hydrophobic
• Why are triglycerides good energy stores?

  They are compact and energy dense
• Why are triglycerides used as an energy store?

  • Insoluble in water, do not affect cell water potential
  • Compact molecules
  • Generate twice as much energy as carbohydrates
  • Produce more water molecules in respiration
• What is a key property of triglycerides regarding water?

  They are insoluble in water
• How do triglycerides compare to carbohydrates in energy generation?

  They generate twice as much energy
• Why is the production of water molecules significant for desert-dwelling organisms?

  It is crucial for survival in arid environments
• How are phospholipids suited to their role in membranes?

  • Part hydrophobic and part hydrophilic
  • Form a bilayer controlling substance entry and exit
  • Glycolipids formed with carbohydrate attachment for cell signaling
  • Membrane fluidity regulated by fatty acid ratio
• What are the two parts of a phospholipid?

  Hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails
• What role do glycolipids play in membranes?

  They are involved in cell signaling
• How does the structure of phospholipids contribute to membrane function?

  • Creates a bilayer
  • Acts as a selective barrier
  • Regulates movement of substances
• How does the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids affect membrane fluidity?

  • Higher unsaturated fatty acids = more fluid
  • Higher saturated fatty acids = more rigid
• What effect do unsaturated fatty acids have on membrane fluidity?

  They make the membrane more fluid
• What happens to membrane rigidity with more saturated fatty acids?

  It makes the membrane more rigid