1. 6.3 Structure of Lipids Chapter 6 ~ The Chemistry of Life Section 6.3 p. 157 - 163

2. The Structure of Lipids Lipids are made of two subunits: –Glycerol –Fatty acids

3. General structure of fatty acids: a type of lipid Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with a long hydrocarbon tail. In the general structure, "R" represents the large hydrocarbon tail. R generally represents a hydrocarbon chain of 3 to 19 C atoms.

4. A fatty acid ~ myristic acid Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with a long hydrocarbon tail. In the general structure, "R" represents the large hydrocarbon tail. In this example, the hydrocarbon tail has 13 carbons. Myristic acid is in butterfat and coconut oil. It is a saturated fatty acid: the hydrocarbon tail has no double bonds.

5. A fatty acid ~ oleic acid In this example, the hydrocarbon tail has 17 carbons. Oleic acid is in olive oil, peanut oil, and human fat. It is an unsaturated fatty acid: the hydrocarbon tail has a double bond. Since there is only one double bond, the fatty acid is monounsaturated.

6. Saturated fats have all single bonds. Unsaturated fats have at least one double bond.

7. Structure of glycerol, a compound that reacts with fatty acids The -OH groups on glycerol can react with the -COOH groups on fatty acids, causing the fatty acid to join to the glycerol, and releasing water. The glycerol and 3 fatty acids react to form triglycerides.

8. Glycerol and fatty acids form triglycerides The -OH groups on glycerol can react with the -COOH groups on fatty acids, causing the fatty acid to join to the glycerol, and releasing water. The glycerol and fatty acids react to form triglycerides.

9. General formulas show how glycerol and fatty acids form triglycerides The -OH groups on glycerol can react with the - COOH groups on fatty acids, causing the fatty acid to join to the glycerol, and releasing water. The glycerol and fatty acids react to form triglycerides.

10. Structural formulas show how glycerol and stearic acid forms tristearin, a triglyceride The -OH groups on glycerol can react with the - COOH groups on stearic acid, causing the stearic acid to join to the glycerol, and releasing water. The glycerol and stearic acid react to form tristearin, a triglyceride.