Roles of triglyceride

• A triglyceride molecule can be described as being either saturated or unsaturated.
• Oils are liquids that can be seen in olive oil, while fats are things like butter or margarine and take on a solid form.
• The main difference between fats and oils is that fats are mainly solid at room temperature and oils are liquid.
• The presence of a double bond between some carbon atoms in the fatty acid tail determines whether a triglyceride is a solid or a liquid.
• Fatty acids in triglycerides with hydrocarbon chains that have no double bonds between the carbon atoms are termed as being saturated.
• Fatty acids with hydrocarbon chains that have one double bond between two of the carbon atoms are termed as being monounsaturated.
• Fatty acids with hydrocarbon chains that have many double bonds between many carbon atoms are termed as being polyunsaturated.
• Triglycerides are less dense than water due to their chemical makeup, aiding in buoyancy or floating for aquatic animals.
• Triglycerides are used by aquatic animals as a waterproof for their fur, repelling water and aiding in swimming.
• Triglycerides provide the most energy per unit of mass of any storage molecule, resulting in more energy for the same mass of sugar.
• Triglycerides are used in respiration to release energy and form water, which can be used for other metabolic processes or hydration.
• Triglycerides are large, non-polar molecules, making them insoluble in water and not affecting the osmotic balance of the cells.
• Triglycerides are used by animals to protect internal organs, cushioning them against external forces.
• Triglycerides can store energy as well as be used as a reactant in respiration.
• Triglycerides are used by animals as a thermal insulation, especially in colder climates, keeping heat in and cold out.
• Triglycerides can exist as a solid i.e fats or a liquid as an oil and it's the carbon double bond which dictates whether it's a fat or an oil.
• The carbon double bonds in any unsaturated hydrocarbon chains are monounsaturated or polyunsaturated and their presence causes the fatty acid tails to bend slightly.
• The bending of the fatty acid tails pushes the unsaturated triglyceride molecules further apart from each other than the saturated ones.
• Saturated fatty acids can pack together very tightly due to their straight chain structure, while unsaturated fatty acids push further apart due to their bends in the tail.
• A saturated fatty acid in a triglyceride has no carbon-carbon double bonds and exists as a solid at room temperature, while a monounsaturated fatty acid found in a triglyceride has one double carbon bond and exists as a liquid at room temperature.
• Unsaturated fatty acids have bends in their fatty acid chains that push each other away, increasing the space between the molecules and weakening the intermolecular forces.
• Reacting this with oxygen gives us the same products as before: co2, water, and atp.
• Unsaturated fatty acids form a liquid at room temperature due to the spaces between the molecules, while saturated fatty acids form a solid.
• Saturated fatty acids can pack closely together and take part in more intermolecular interactions, making them stronger and more compact.
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids have many double bonds and exist as a liquid, while triglycerides have a range of different functions in the body, including being used in respiration.
• Triglycerides in respiration release a lot of energy due to the large number of carbon-hydrogen bonds which can be found in their fatty acid chain.
• The triglyceride molecule is made up of the glycerol with three fatty acids, and when these are broken down, they form two components: the glycerol and the fatty acids.
• Triglycerides can be broken down into their components which are the glycerol and the fatty acids, and these can also be used in respiration.
• Unsaturated fatty acids have a liquid form like oils, while saturated fatty acids have a solid form like fats.