3.1.3 Lipids
Unit 1: Biomolecules
3.1.3 Lipids
Key Notes
Name: ____________________
Hydrocarbons | Molecules that only contain hydrogen and carbon atoms. |
Triglyceride | A lipid made of a glycerol molecule bonded to 3 fatty acid molecules. |
Fatty acids | A carboxylic acid group joined to a hydrocarbon tail. Tail can be of varying length. |
Saturated fatty acid | A fatty acid that does not contain any double bonds between carbon atoms. The maximum number of possible hydrogens are bonded to the fatty acid. |
Unsaturated fatty acid | A fatty acid that contains 1 or more double bonds between carbon atoms. |
Ester bond | The bond that forms between a glycerol and fatty acid in a condensation reaction. |
Condensation reaction | A reaction in which a bond is formed, releasing a water molecule. |
Phospholipid | A lipid made of a phosphate group, glycerol molecule and 2 fatty acids. |
Bilayer | A double-layered structure that forms from phospholipids, forming membranes in cells. The hydrophilic phosphate heads point outwards whilst the hydrophobic fatty acid tails point inwards. |
Hydrophilic | Attracts water. |
Hydrophobic | Repels water. |
Emulsion test | A test using ethanol, shaking and then water to identify the presence of a lipid. A positive result is a milky-white emulsion forming. |
Triglycerides
Diagrams of triglycerides: |
|
The formation of a triglyceride.
Triglycerides have many biological roles such as energy storage, insulation (electrical and heat) and protection. The structure of triglycerides are well suited to their functions:
Structure of triglycerides | Function of triglycerides |
They have a high ratio of energy storing carbon-hydrogen bonds to carbon atoms (long fatty acid tails) – contain lots of chemical energy | Energy storage. |
They have a low mass to energy ratio | Makes them good storage molecules because so much energy can be stored in a small volume (contain about twice as much energy per gram as carbs). |
They are large, non-polar molecules, insoluble in water. | They have no osmotic effect and do not affect the water potential in cells. They can clump together in insoluble droplets (hydrophobic tails facing inwards). |
Fatty Acids
CH3CH2COOH |
Saturated fatty acid | Unsaturated fatty acid |
No double bonds between C atoms | One or more double bonds between C atoms |
|
|
Phospholipids
Phospholipids are specialised lipids that are similar to triglycerides but one of the fatty acids is substituted for a phosphate group.
Phospholipids | Triglyceride |
A phospholipid has a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part.
Phospholipids are composed of:
When multiple phospholipids come together in water, they form a bilayer. These phospholipid bilayers are what make up cell membranes (more on this later in Unit 2).
The structure of phospholipids is well suited to their function as forming cell membranes:
Structure of phospholipids | Function of phospholipids |
Hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tail | Can form a double layer (bilayer) with heads facing out towards water on each side. |
Centre of the cell membrane bilayer is hydrophobic | Water-soluble substances can’t pass through easily (forms a barrier). |
Test for lipids
The test for lipids is known as the ethanol emulsion test;
A positive result for the presence of lipids using this test is a milky white colour/emulsion.
This happens because the ethanol (alcohol) dissolves lipids.
(Note, you must not say a precipitate / cloudy emulsion).
Unit 1: Biomolecules
3.1.3 Lipids
Key Notes
Name: ____________________
Hydrocarbons | Molecules that only contain hydrogen and carbon atoms. |
Triglyceride | A lipid made of a glycerol molecule bonded to 3 fatty acid molecules. |
Fatty acids | A carboxylic acid group joined to a hydrocarbon tail. Tail can be of varying length. |
Saturated fatty acid | A fatty acid that does not contain any double bonds between carbon atoms. The maximum number of possible hydrogens are bonded to the fatty acid. |
Unsaturated fatty acid | A fatty acid that contains 1 or more double bonds between carbon atoms. |
Ester bond | The bond that forms between a glycerol and fatty acid in a condensation reaction. |
Condensation reaction | A reaction in which a bond is formed, releasing a water molecule. |
Phospholipid | A lipid made of a phosphate group, glycerol molecule and 2 fatty acids. |
Bilayer | A double-layered structure that forms from phospholipids, forming membranes in cells. The hydrophilic phosphate heads point outwards whilst the hydrophobic fatty acid tails point inwards. |
Hydrophilic | Attracts water. |
Hydrophobic | Repels water. |
Emulsion test | A test using ethanol, shaking and then water to identify the presence of a lipid. A positive result is a milky-white emulsion forming. |
Triglycerides
Diagrams of triglycerides: |
|
The formation of a triglyceride.
Triglycerides have many biological roles such as energy storage, insulation (electrical and heat) and protection. The structure of triglycerides are well suited to their functions:
Structure of triglycerides | Function of triglycerides |
They have a high ratio of energy storing carbon-hydrogen bonds to carbon atoms (long fatty acid tails) – contain lots of chemical energy | Energy storage. |
They have a low mass to energy ratio | Makes them good storage molecules because so much energy can be stored in a small volume (contain about twice as much energy per gram as carbs). |
They are large, non-polar molecules, insoluble in water. | They have no osmotic effect and do not affect the water potential in cells. They can clump together in insoluble droplets (hydrophobic tails facing inwards). |
Fatty Acids
CH3CH2COOH |
Saturated fatty acid | Unsaturated fatty acid |
No double bonds between C atoms | One or more double bonds between C atoms |
|
|
Phospholipids
Phospholipids are specialised lipids that are similar to triglycerides but one of the fatty acids is substituted for a phosphate group.
Phospholipids | Triglyceride |
A phospholipid has a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part.
Phospholipids are composed of:
When multiple phospholipids come together in water, they form a bilayer. These phospholipid bilayers are what make up cell membranes (more on this later in Unit 2).
The structure of phospholipids is well suited to their function as forming cell membranes:
Structure of phospholipids | Function of phospholipids |
Hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tail | Can form a double layer (bilayer) with heads facing out towards water on each side. |
Centre of the cell membrane bilayer is hydrophobic | Water-soluble substances can’t pass through easily (forms a barrier). |
Test for lipids
The test for lipids is known as the ethanol emulsion test;
A positive result for the presence of lipids using this test is a milky white colour/emulsion.
This happens because the ethanol (alcohol) dissolves lipids.
(Note, you must not say a precipitate / cloudy emulsion).