Chapter 23.

3 - Lipids
• Large molecules but not polymers
• Non-polar, hydrophobic, so they don’t dissolve in water
• Their main functions (store energy & make up most of the cell structure membranes
• The major building blocks are fatty acids.

Fatty acids:
• Long chain carboxylic acid could be saturated or unsaturated.
• Saturated: Stearic acid – all bonds are single, Unsaturated: Oleic acid (has low melting point) – at least one double bond.
• Unsaturated converted into saturated through hydrogenation reaction.

Triglycerides Phospholipids Waxes Steroids

• Three fatty acids with one glycerol, synthesized through condensation • Triglyceride (fatty acid) and phosphate group, a Waxes are lipids • lipids that have multiple cyclic rings in their
reaction, form ester bond. triglyceride in which a fatty acid is replaced by formed by combining structures
• Triglyceride could be solid at room temperature (Fat) or liquid (Oil). a phosphate group. a fatty acid with a • No fatty acids)
• Make up all the cell membrane bilayer, called long-chain alcohol, • All are made from the basic four-ring steroid.
lipid bilayer. both plants and Examples:
• Connection real life: Venom of some snakes animals make waxes. ✓ Vitamin D: plays a role in the formation of bones.
contains the enzyme phospholipase that ✓ Sex hormones: such as estrogen and testosterone,
breaks down the phospholipids, once it enters regulate metabolic process.
the blood stream it destroys the phospholipids ✓ Cholesterol: important structural component of cell
of blood cells and causes death. membranes.

Saponification
Connection to real life: