Lipids

The Big Picture – To understand

Specification points:
h) The structure of a triglyceride and a phospholipid as examples of
macromolecules.
To include an outline of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
Knowledge Check:

Study
Tip

REMEMBER:
AO1 check
Triglycerides
• These are made up of 3 fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol
molecule.
• The three fatty acid chains attach to the glycerol molecule in a
condensation reaction.
• As there are 3 fatty acids 3 water molecules are formed.
• The bond between the fatty acid chain and the glycerol is called
an ester linkage. 3 ester bonds are formed in each triglyceride.
 NB: Triglyceride = ‘fat’

Triglyceride because the

Ester bonds x 3
molecule contains 3 fatty acids
 CONDENSATION
REACTION
WHAT TYPE OF REACTION?
Synthesis of a triglyceride
• Write a paragraph on how a triglyceride is formed.
• You must include a diagram in your answer.
• You should also include the following words: Glycerol, fatty acids,
triglyceride, condensation reaction, water, ester bonds.
• Support: text books, synthesis of a fat diagram
• Extra challenge: How is this reaction different/similar to the
formation of a glycosidic bond?
Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Saturated = C–C bonds

Unsaturated = one or more C=C bonds

COOH
palmitic acid, a saturated acid
COOH

palmitoleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid

Saturated fatty acids
Unsaturated fatty acids
Task
1) Write a definition for a saturated fat and an unsaturated fat.
You may include diagrams if you wish.
2) Match up the statements to the saturated or unsaturated
fat definitions.
Support: Text book
Extra challenge: Which fat (saturated or unsaturated) has a
higher melting point and why?
 Every carbon atom is bonded to as Double bonds Mainly found
many hydrogen atoms as possible introduce a in vegetable
no more can be added, hence definite ‘kink’ in oils, nuts and
‘saturated (with hydrogen)’ the carbon atom fish
chain
The more
Carbon chain is
double bonds Mainly found in
straight, with no
the more kinks animal fats
kinks
there will be from meat and
dairy products
Triglycerides consisting of ‘ kinky’
unsaturated fatty acids do not pack
together easily and form liquid oils at Triglycerides consisting of
room temperature saturated fatty acids can pack
together to form solid fat at room
Not every carbon atom is bonded to as many hydrogen temperature
atoms as it could be – hence ‘unsaturated (with (think about the fat on a piece of
hydrogen)’ – and so there are double bonds present bacon)
 Every carbon atom is bonded to as many hydrogen atoms as possible
no more can be added, hence ‘saturated (with hydrogen)’

Saturated fatty acids Carbon chain is

Mainly found in animal straight, with no kinks
fats from meat and
dairy products

Triglycerides consisting of saturated fatty acids can pack

together to form solid fat at room temperature
(think about the fat on a piece of bacon)
 Not every carbon atom is bonded to as many hydrogen atoms as it could be
– hence ‘unsaturated (with hydrogen)’ – and so there are double bonds
present

Double bonds introduce

a definite ‘kink’ in the
Unsaturated fatty acids carbon atom chain
Mainly found
in vegetable
oils, nuts and The more
fish double bonds
the more kinks
there will be

Triglycerides consisting of ‘ kinky’ unsaturated fatty acids

do not pack together easily and form liquid oils at room
temperature
Exam
question
Phospholipids
Fatty Acids

• Essential fatty acids cannot be made in the body

• Saturated fatty acids = no double bonds  animal fats
• Unsaturated = one (mono) or more (poly) C=C in hydrocarbon chain
 plant oils
Phospholipids

Made up of:
• Glycerol
• 2 fatty acids
• A phosphate group (PO43-) these phosphate ions have extra electrons
so negatively charged – this makes them soluble in water

HYDROPHILLIC phosphate ‘head’ (charged end and attracted to water)

HYDROPHOBIC fatty acid ‘tail’ (non-polar and repel water)

We will look at these more in topic 2.1.5

Phospholipid arrangement
Phosphate head in water and fatty acid tails sticking out of the water forming
a monolayer called surfactants or surface active agents.

We will look more into this when learning about the lungs
Phospholipid arrangement
Fatty acid tails point inwards forming a bilayer and protected from the water
by the phosphate heads.

This separates the aqueous environment outside the cell and the aqueous
cytosol within cells

We will look more into this when learning about

membranes
Sterols
• Also called sterol alcohols
• Another type of lipid that is not a fat or oil and have a dissimilar
structure
• Complex alcohol molecules based on a four carbon ring structure with
a hydroxyl (OH) group at one end.
• The hydroxyl group is polar and the rest of the molecule is
hydrophobic.
Cholesterol (a type of sterol)
• Made in the liver or intestines
• Important in the formation of cell membranes by positioning between
the phospholipids with the hydroxyl group at the periphery of the
membrane.
• Adds to the stability of the cell membrane
• Regulates the fluidity of the membrane by keeping the membrane fluid at low
temperatures and stop them becoming too fluid at high temperatures
• Steroid hormones, vitamin D and bile are all manufactured using
cholesterol.
Exam
question
Fluidity of membranes
• Saturated fatty acid tails fit together more closely  less fluid
• Unsaturated fatty acid tails  more fluid membrane as molecules
cannot fit closely together
• Useful for organisms living in cold climates – membrane remains fluid
Functions of Lipids

• Source of energy through respiration, energy store in adipose tissue

• Used for thermal insulation e.g. blubber, myelin
• Also electrical insulation for impulse transmission
• Waterproof protective coating e.g. cuticle on leaves and birds feathers
• Hormone production including steroid hormones
• Membrane formation and creating hydrophobic barriers
• Cushioning to protect vital organs
• Buoyancy for aquatic animals such as whales
Respiration of lipids

• Ester bonds are HYDROLYSED

• Glycerol and fatty acids can be broken down into CO2 and H2O
• 2 x energy from carbohydrate
• More metabolic water released (useful for desert animals)
• Lipids are insoluble and do not affect Y of cell
Exam question
Exam question (9 marks)