AS Biology Core Principles

Lipids
Aims

o Elements of lipids
o Structure of glycerol & fatty acids
o Condensation reactions to form
triglycerides
o Phospholipids
Introduction to lipids
Introduction to lipids

o Lipids contain the elements

carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
o They have numerous functions,
primarily energy stores in animals
and plants.
o Lipids consist of two types of
molecules - glycerol & fatty acids.
Glycerol
o A molecule of
glycerol is made up
of three carbon
atoms.
o Each of these has a
hydroxyl group
attached to it.
o Hydrogen atoms
occupy the
remaining
positions.
Fatty Acids
Fatty Acids
o A single fatty acid molecule contains an
acid (COOH) group attached to a
hydrocarbon chain.
o Hydrocarbon usually denoted by the
letter R.
o Saturated = If every carbon atom in the
chain is joined by a single C-C bond.
o Unsaturated = at least one C=C bond.
o Polyunsaturated = many double bonds.
o Most animal fats are saturated while
most plant fats are unsaturated.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides
o A triglyceride molecule is made of a
glycerol molecule and three fatty acids.
o The molecules join together through the
process of condensation losing a
molecule of water each time a link is
made.
o The link between the glycerol molecule
& each fatty acid is an Ester Link.
o The fatty acids in a lipid molecule can
differ in length and can be saturated or
unsaturated.
Triglycerides
Phospholipids
o In phospholipids one
of the fatty acids of
a triglyceride is
substituted by a
phosphate group.
Phospholipids
Phospholipids
Lipids & water

o Triglycerides and phospholipids

have hydrophobic and hydrophilic
groups.
o What does this mean?
o To what use is this feature put in
biology?
More Info
o To make further notes on Lipids :
o Pages 11 & 12 in Collins
o Pages 69 - 71 Roberts
o www.mrothery.co.uk
o www.learn.co.uk
o www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/
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