Lipids Nomenclature and Classification Quiz

Lipids that have both a hydrophilic (water-loving) and a hydrophobic (water-fearing) region. This dual nature makes them ideal for forming barriers, like cell membranes, which separate the watery interior of a cell from the watery environment outside.

Fatty acids are classified based on the presence or absence of double bonds in their hydrocarbon chain. Saturated: no double bonds, Unsaturated: one or more double bonds.

Essential fatty acids are fatty acids that the body cannot synthesize and must be obtained from the diet. Examples include linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic acid (omega-3).

The general structure of a fatty acid is a long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group at one end. The 'n' in the formula represents the number of carbon atoms in the chain. Almost always, 'n' is an even number.

Unsaturated fatty acids, which are more abundant than saturated fatty acids in nature, especially in plants, have one or more double bonds in their structure.