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Chemistry-Lipids - lipids notes
Course: Chemistry (CHM104)
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University: Rockland Community College
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Chemistry
Lipids
- Lipids are a diverse group of organic molecules that are insoluble in water but soluble in
organic solvents.
- They include fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
- Lipids are important for many different functions in the body, such as energy storage,
insulation, and cell membrane structure.
- Fats and oils are the most common types of lipids.
- They are composed of glycerol and fatty acids. The fatty acids are long chains of
hydrocarbons with a carboxyl group at one end.
- Fats are solid at room temperature, while oils are liquid at room temperature.
- The difference in physical properties is due to the types of fatty acids that are present in
the molecule.
- Waxes are another type of lipid that are composed of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols.
- They are found in many different types of organisms, such as plants, animals, and fungi.
- Waxes are important for waterproofing and protection.
- Phospholipids are a type of lipid that are important for cell membrane structure.
- They are composed of glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group.
- The phosphate group is hydrophilic, or water-loving, while the fatty acid chains are
hydrophobic, or water-hating.
- This allows phospholipids to form a bilayer in cell membranes, with the hydrophilic
heads facing outward and the hydrophobic tails facing inward.