Lipids and Fatty Acids Overview

What component is not found in phospholipids?

Which of the following describes the structure of phospholipids?

Which phospholipid contains an ethanolamine group?

What role does cholesterol play in cell membranes?

Which statement accurately describes the arrangement of the phospholipid bilayer in a cell membrane?

Which type of lipid is characterized by the presence of fatty acids that are saturated?

What is the main difference between cis and trans fatty acids?

During saponification, what are the primary products formed from the reaction of triacylglycerol with a strong base?

What does the term 'esterification' refer to in the context of lipids?

Which of the following fatty acids is an example of a saturated fatty acid?

In the classification of lipids, which category includes terpenes and steroids?

What is the condensed formula for stearic acid?

Which part of the glycerol molecule defines it as a triacylglycerol?

Lipids

Lipids are categorized into simple lipids (with fatty acids that can be saponified) and complex lipids (without saponifiable fatty acids).
Simple lipids include:
- Acylglycerols (e.g., triglycerides)
- Waxes
Complex lipids include:
- Phospholipids (e.g., phosphoglycerides, sphingolipids)
- Glycosphingolipids
- Terpenes (isoprenoids)
- Steroids
- Prostaglandins

Fatty Acids

Fatty acid formula: CH₃-(CH₂),-COOH (where n represents the number of carbons).
Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds.
Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds.
- Cis unsaturated fatty acids have the hydrogen atoms on the same side of the double bond.
- Trans unsaturated fatty acids have the hydrogen atoms on opposite sides of the double bond.
Examples of fatty acids include stearic acid (saturated) and oleic acid (unsaturated)

Esterification and Saponification

Esterification: The reaction of an acid and an alcohol to form an ester and water.
Saponification: The reaction of a fat (triglyceride) with a strong base (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to produce soap and glycerol.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are formed from glycerol and three fatty acids.
Triglycerides can be saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, depending on the fatty acids they are composed of.

Structure of a Phospholipid

Phospholipids have a polar head group (e.g., choline, serine, ethanolamine) and nonpolar fatty acid tails.

Types of Phospholipids

Phosphatidylethanolamine
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylcholine
Sphingomyelin

Other Lipids

Cholesterol and estradiol are examples of sterols.

Explore the fascinating world of lipids, including their classification into simple and complex types. Learn about fatty acids, including their structures and saturation characteristics. This quiz also covers important chemical processes such as esterification and saponification.