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Six facts about lipids

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  • Fats and oils are not polymers like carbohydrates and proteins.

  • Lipids are made up of fatty acids and glycerol . The most common arrangement is found in triglycerides.

  • Fatty acids have an acid group and a side chain group.

  • If the R group has single bonds, the fatty acid is saturated. If it has double bonds, it is unsaturated.

  • The presence of lipids can be checked with the emulsion test.

A long chain molecule made up of smaller monomers. An alcohol with 3 carbons. Add some food to ethanol. Then decant the ethanol off into water and shake. A milky-white emulsion is formed with fat. Glycerol bonded with a phosphate group and 2 fatty acids.