Table of Contents
How are fatty acids different from other macromolecules?
Explanation: In terms of chemical composition, lipids differ from nucleic acids and proteins because they mostly just contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (except for phospholipids which of course contain phosphorous). Lipds and fats aren’t polymers – whereas most of the other macromolecules are polymers.
How does fatty acid structure compare to carbohydrate structure?
Differences between carbohydrates and Fats: Chemical composition and structure: Carbohydrates are polymers of monosaccharides, which are polyols (many OH groups) with an aldehyde or ketone functional group. Fats are esters of fatty acids and glycerol. Fats are hydrophobic.
What basic units do fats and phospholipids have in common?
Phospholipids are the major constituent of the plasma membrane. Like fats, they are composed of fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol or similar backbone. Instead of three fatty acids attached, however, there are two fatty acids and the third carbon of the glycerol backbone is bound to a phosphate group.
How does the structure of fatty acids?
Generally, a fatty acid consists of a straight chain of an even number of carbon atoms, with hydrogen atoms along the length of the chain and at one end of the chain and a carboxyl group (―COOH) at the other end. A few fatty acids have branched chains; others contain ring structures (e.g., prostaglandins).
What about the structure of a fat molecule makes it useful for a cell and why?
They are the molecules used to build the membranes found around and inside cells. The combination of fatty acids and a phosphate group make phospholipids ideal for making cellular membranes. The phosphate group is soluble in water and is therefore attracted to water (hydrophilic).
Which of the following is an accurate description of the structure of an unsaturated fatty acid?
Which of the following is an accurate description of the structure of an unsaturated fatty acid? Most unsaturated fatty acids found in nature have double bonds with a blank configuration where the carbon chain is on the same side before and after the double bond.
How do fats compare to carbohydrates as an energy source?
Fat has more than twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates and proteins. A gram of fat has about 9 calories, while a gram of carbohydrate or protein has about 4 calories. In other words, you could eat twice as much carbohydrates or proteins as fat for the same amount of calories.
How do fats and carbohydrates differ?
Carbohydrates are used for energy (glucose). Fats are used for energy after they are broken into fatty acids.
How do fats and phospholipids differ quizlet?
They differ in the presence of a hydrophilic region and in general fats contain three fatty acids and produce ester linkages. Are fats or phospholipids important to the cell membrane? Their most prominent are in Cell membranes.
How does the structure of a phospholipid differ from that of a fat?
Like fats, they are typically composed of fatty acid chains attached to a backbone of glycerol. Instead having three fatty acid tails, however, phospholipids generally have just two, and the third carbon of the glycerol backbone is occupied by a modified phosphate group.
Why do saturated fatty acids have straight structures while unsaturated acids have bent structures?
These molecules differ in structure and food sources. Saturated fatty acids exhibit a linear structure while unsaturated fatty acids bend, or kink, due to double bonds within the chemical foundation.
How does the structure of a fat cell relate to its function?
Like other cells in the body, each has a cell membrane and a nucleus, but their bulk is made up of droplets of stored triglycerides, each of which consists of three fatty-acid molecules attached to a single glycerol molecule. When insulin drops, fat cells release their stores as a source of quick energy for the body.