Triglycerides

• What is meant by an unsaturated fatty acid?

  contains a double bond between two carbons

  meaning that it is unsaturated with hydrogen
• What bond joins fatty acid to glycerol?

  ester
• What is the composition of triglycerides?

  1 glycerol molecule bonded by ester bonds to 3 fatty acid molecules
• What else is formed when a triglyceride Is formed?

  3 water molecules
• What are the 5 uses of lipids in the body?

  Cell membranes

  Source of cholesterol and steroid hormones

  Insulation and protection of organs

  Energy storage

  respiratory substrate
• unsaturated lipids have fewer hydrogen atoms than saturated lipids
• Describe how the structure of triglycerides relates to their function in cells?

  Their function is to act as an energy store (they store more energy that carbohydrates)

  they contain many bonds so they release a lot of energy when broken

  they are insoluble (no osmotic effect)