Lipids
Lipids are commonly known as fats & oils.
What are oils?
• Lipids are NON-POLAR.
• They have a VERY high carbon & hydrogen
concentration and very little oxygen.
Ex) Beef Fat = C57H110O6
• In the body, they are held together by HIGH
ENERGY BONDS. This is because they store heat &
energy and are a major component of the cell
membrane.
LIPIDS
Lets rewind real quick…each
carbohydrate is made up of…
THINK: “CHO”
Lipids like Carbs?
You might have noticed that both carbohydrates and lipids have the
elements Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen.
•
•
A carbohydrate, has twice as many hydrogen atoms as the number of
oxygen atoms.
•
•
•
•
“CHO”
EX: C6H12O6
(This is a carb= there are double the number of H compared to O)
On the other hand, lipids have a lot more than twice the amount
hydrogen atoms as the number of oxygen atoms.
•
EX: C27H46O cholesterol
The Shape of a Triglyceride
The three fatty acid
“tails” are primarily
C-H bonds.
This is a triglyceride molecule
The glycerol “head” is
a 3-carbon backbone
with Oxygen and
Hydrogens bonded to
it
Fats
What makes
fats (lipids)
insoluble in
water? What
do you
notice in the
molecule?
What is your Function?
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Lipids contain a lot of calories in a small space.
Make up the cell membrane, providing cell
structure
Provide insulation (fat keeps body warm)
Long-term energy storage
regulate growth and development
Phospholipid
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The fatty "tail" (methyl chain) is non-polar
(Hydrophobic) while the Carboxyl "head" is
a little polar (Hydrophillic).
Saturated or Unsaturated?
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Fatty acids can be saturated (meaning they
have as many hydrogens bonded to their
carbons as possible)
OR unsaturated (with one or more double
bonds connecting their carbons, hence
fewer hydrogens).
Unsaturated
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A fat is a solid at room temperature, while an
oil is a liquid under the same conditions.
The fatty acids in oils are mostly unsaturated,
while those in fats are mostly saturated.
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Saturated: typically animal fats/lards. Also butter.
Unsaturated: fruits, vegetables, fish, corn oil, olive
oil, vegetable oils
LIPIDS ARE NEXT
They are a great source of STORED ENERGY so we
have it in the future.
They INSULATE the body to maintain normal body
temperature and they CUSHION the internal organs for
protection.
They produce hormones for the body called STEROIDS
They waterproof surfaces of animals, plants, and fruitsthese are waxes!
LIPIDS…Some interesting info
•Fruits produce a waxy coating to
keep from drying out.
• The cells in a tulip make a wax
which helps coat the leaves.
•Ear wax traps dust, sand, and
other foreign particles from going
deeper into the ear and causing
damage.
•Beeswax- a structural material to
hold honey in the hive
There are many different types of steroids.
They are all lipids. Their functions vary.
Some common steroids are:
SEX STEROIDS
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
CHOLESTEROL
Like testosterone and
estrogen
They increase muscle
Estrogen vs. Testosterone
Cholesterol
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An essential steroid that surrounds our cells
Starting point for other steroids in your
body to be produced
Too much can cause cardiovascular (heart
and blood vessel) disease