Question

what is the basic structure and function of lipids?

Answer 1

Lipids:

1. Fatty acids or their derivatives are a family of chemical molecules that are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents.
2. Many natural oils, waxes, and steroids are among them.

Structures of lipids

1. The lipid structure is influenced by the fatty acid structure.
2. Single bonds between carbon atoms in fatty acid chains may cause the lipid to be "saturated." This creates fats that are ordinarily solid at room temperature.
3. If one or more of the carbon atoms' bonds have double bonds, the lipid is dubbed “unsaturated.”
4. If there is just one double bond in the triglyceride, it is called "monounsaturated," and if there are numerous double bonds, it is called “polyunsaturated.”
5. At room temperature, unsaturated fatty acids, sometimes known as oils, are liquid.

Lipid's functions

1. Energy storage - Because the carbons are all linked to hydrogens, triglyceride breakdown produces more energy than carbohydrate breakdown.
2. Biological membranes - Cell membranes are mostly made up of a phospholipid bilayer, as previously stated.
3. Hormone production - many hormones are formed from lipids, and they are commonly classified as steroid hormones.