CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY

Don Severino de las Alas Campus

Indang, Cavite
College of Education

BSES 27
Biochemistry
Activity # 3
Name: Lapurga, Jerico M. Student No. 202103907

Directions: Answer each of the following questions. (10 pts each). Please submit your
output on June 22, 2023.

1. What is LIPIDS? Describe its structure and functions.

Lipids are chemical compounds that elements that form a chemical connection is found in
your body that aid in certain processes. These are fatty or waxy compounds produced by your body
that do not dissolve in water. These molecules can be produced in the human body and are found
in oil, butter, whole milk, cheese, fried meals, and some red meats. Lipids are organic molecules
made up of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms that serve as the foundation for the structure and
function of living cells. Lipids are made up of three major elements: carbon (C), hydrogen (H),
and oxygen (O). These elements also combine
to generate hydrocarbon chains and hydroxyl
groups. Importantly, carbon and hydrogen
bonding hold these chains together.
Trigylercerides, Phospholipids, and Sterols are
the three types of lipids.

The structure is typically made of a glycerol backbone, 2 fatty acid tails (hydrophobic), and a
phosphate group (hydrophilic). As such, phospholipids are amphipathic. Lipids serve multi
purposes in the body and in food. Lipids act as an energy reserve in the body, regulate hormones,
convey nerve impulses, cushion important organs, and carry fat-soluble nutrients. Fat in food
provides calories with a high caloric density, adds texture and flavor, and aids in satiety. Also, they
help with moving and storing energy, absorbing vitamins and making hormones.

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2. What is the building block component of lipids? Draw its structure.

Fatty acids are essential lipid building blocks that add complexity and chemical specificity
to the complex lipids present in natural fats and oils. Fatty acids are the building blocks of fat in
our body and the foods we eat. Throughout digestion, the body converts lipids into fatty acids,
which are then taken into the blood stream.

Fatty acids are chemical molecules with the general formula CH3(CH2)nCOOH, where
n is always an even number ranging from 2 to 28. A fatty acid is made up of a straight chain with
an even number of carbon atoms, with hydrogen atoms running along the length of the chain and
at one end, and a carboxyl group (COOH) at the other end. It is the carboxyl group that causes it
to be classified as an acid (carboxylic acid). Saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids are
the two forms of fatty acids.

3. Define essential fatty acids. Discuss its importance.

EFAs, or essential fatty acids, are fatty acids that humans and other animals must consume
since the body needs them for optimum health but cannot produce them. Only two fatty acids are
known to be required for humans: omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid and omega-6 fatty acid
linoleic acid. Some of the importance of essential fatty acids are essential for human diet, Essential
fatty acids are involved in numerous metabolic processes, and there is evidence that insufficient
amounts of essential fatty acids, or the incorrect balance of essential fatty acid types, may be a
cause in a variety of disorders, including osteoporosis. Essential fatty acids are critical in the life

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and death of heart cells. Furthermore, essential fatty acids are required for the synthesis of
numerous endocannabinoids that serve a variety of activities in the body. Formation of healthy cell
membranes. These are some of the importance of essential fatty acids in our body:

 Proper development and functioning of the brain and nervous system

 Proper thyroid and adrenal activity
 Hormone production
 Regulation of blood pressure, liver function, immune and inflammatory responses
 Regulation of blood clotting

Essential fatty acids are those that the body cannot make on its own. They are essential for a
variety of biological processes, including heart health, cancer prevention, cognitive function, skin
health, and obesity prevention. Vegetable oils, nuts, and oily cold-water fish are all good sources
of essential fatty acids. Flaxseed oil, fish oil, cod liver oil, and krill oil are examples of important
fatty acid supplements.

4. What is triaclglycerol? Show how it is formed.

Triacylglycerol, sometimes known as triglycerides, is a type of fat (lipid) found in the

blood. Triglycerides are esters made up of three fatty acids and one glycerol molecule. These esters
are created by the liver and are employed for long-term energy storage. They retain calories that
are not immediately utilized by the body after eating. The liver converts calories into triglycerides.
Some triglycerides remain in the liver, while others are transported through the bloodstream to be
stored in adipose tissue. Hormones cause the release of triglycerides, which provide energy in
between meals.

A triglyceride is formed through esterification of the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of

glycerol and fatty acid. Because of the polar nature of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, triglycerides
are nonpolar, hydrophobic, and insoluble in water. Lipids are easily stored because they are
insoluble and cannot be broken down by the body. Triacylglycerols are the form in which fat
energy is stored in adipose tissue. Triacylglycerols are sometimes referred to as triglycerides

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5. Differentiate the four major reactions of lipids (Hydrogenation, Hydrolysis, Saponification
and Oxidation)

There are 4 major reactions of lipids these are the Hydrogenation, Hydrolysis,
Saponification and Oxidation. The first one is the Hydrogenation, in this process the fat's molecular
structure changes. Hydrogenation is the process of adding hydrogen to unsaturated fatty acid
chains in order to connect the hydrogen atoms to the saturation sites, resulting in a more saturated
fatty acid. The next one is the hydrolysis. Hydrolysis can degrade fats and oils, releasing triglycerol
and fatty acids. The acids can be separated and identified, allowing the original fat or oil to be
recognized. Lipase, an enzyme, catalyzes the breakdown of fats and oils. Meanwhile,
Saponification is the process that involves the hydrolysis of fats in the presence of alkali, resulting
in the formation of salts of fatty acids and glycerol, which can be identified as soap. The amount
of of potassium hydroxide required in the hydrolysis determines the saponification value of the
fat. Lastly, Oxidation in this process, Lipid oxidation is a complex series of free radical interactions
between fatty acids and oxygen that results in the oxidative destruction of lipids, often known as
rancidity. Unsaturated fatty acids combine with oxygen during lipid oxidation to create lipid
hydroperoxides, which are then degraded into tiny, volatile compounds such as aldehydes and
ketones.

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Reference:

Byjus. (2022, July 5). What are lipids? - definition, Structure & Classification of Lipids.
BYJUS. https://byjus.com/biology/lipids/

Byjus. (2022a, March 19). Fatty acid groups - what are fatty acids?, classification, productions,
properties and uses of fatty acids along with some faqs. BYJUS. https://byjus.com/chemistry/fatty-
acid-groups/

Downtoearth.org. (2022). The benefits of essential fatty acids. The Benefits of Essential Fatty
Acids | Down to Earth Organic and Natural.
https://www.downtoearth.org/health/nutrition/benefits-essential-fatty-acids

GuyHowTo. (2020, December 27). Reactions of lipids - saponification, hydrogenation,

peroxidation, rancidity. Reactions of Lipids - Saponification, Hydrogenation, Peroxidation,
Rancidity. https://www.guyhowto.com/reactions-of-lipids-saponification-hydrogenation-
peroxidation-rancidity/

Libretexts. (2020, August 14). 5.7: Lipids and the Food Industry. Medicine LibreTexts.
https://med.libretexts.org/Courses/American_River_College/General_Nutrition_Textbook_(not_
Plant-Based)

Semra Kçar. (2019, July 11). N-3 and N-6 fatty acids in fish: A focus on non-marine species.
Omega Fatty Acids in Brain and Neurological Health (Second Edition).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128152386000225

Wikipedia. (2023, May 14). Essential fatty acid. Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acid