Lipids- Fats, Oils, and Waxes



Lipids- Fats, Oils, and Waxes

Molecules that contain the most energy but are used only after all carbohydrates are depleted.

Lipids are made up of two molecules:

1. glycerol molecule

2. Fatty acid chain

Fatty acid chains are hydro-carbons (only made of hydrogen and carbon elements) these chains are Hydrophobic, meaning they do not like water or they fear water.

The glycerol molecule has a polar region that is hydrophilic, or water loving.

Together these molecules are perfect to make-up cell membranes. The polar head is not is attracted to the environment outside and inside the cell but the fatty acid tails keep molecules from passing in a n out of the cell. They protect the cell and create a boundary between the cell and its environment. These lipids form a lipid bi-layer, polar heads on the outside facing the environment and on the inside facing the inside of the cell with the fatty acid chains sandwiched in between, therefore keeping molecules from entering and leaving the cell. These lipids are called Phospholipids.

Familiar Lipids:

Saturated and unsaturated fats.

Saturated fats are fats that can not hold anymore hydrogen molecules. They are saturated with hydrogen. These are fats that are solid at room temperature and come from animals. (Crisco, butter)

Unsaturated fats are fats that have at least one double or triple bond and have room to add more hydrogen. These are fats that are liquid at room temperature and come from plants. Much…Much healthier! (Corn oil, olive oil)

Functions: Lipids have many functions in the body:

1. Insulating the body

2. cushioning of vital organs

3. long term energy storage

4. making of cell membranes

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