TRIGLYCERIDES

• WHAT IS A TRIGLYCERIDE MADE OUT OF?

  3 fatty acids and glycerol
• WHAT BOND FORMS BETWEEN GLYCEROL AND A FATTY ACID?

  ester
• WHAT IS THE R GROUP IN TRIGLYCERIDES?

  fatty acids
• WHAT TYPES OF FATTY ACIDS CAN THERE BE?

  saturated/ unsaturated
• SATURATED FATTY ACIDS?

  hydrocarbon chain only has single bonds between carbons
• UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS?

  hydrocarbon chain consists of at least one double bond between carbons (creates a curve shape)
• PROPERTIES OF TRIGLYCERIDES?

  • energy source
  • metabolic water source
  • insoluble in water
  • relatively low mass
• ENERGY STORAGE PROPERTY?

  large ratio of energy-storing C-H bonds compared to number of C atoms

  -> so a lot of energy is released when the bonds are broken
• METABOLIC WATER SOURCE PROPERTY?

  (releases water if oxidised) due to high ratio of H to O atoms
• INSOLUBLE IN WATER PROPERTY?

  do not affect water potential as they are large and hydrophobic/ non-polar
• WHAT DOES THE METABOLIC WATER SOURCE MEAN?

  essential for desert animals, e.g. camels
• RELATIVELY LOW MASS PROPERTY?

  low mass to energy ratio, not increasing mass or preventing movement and allowing for buoyancy