Question

Trigylcerides are composed from which of the following? A. esters, alcohols, and phospholipids B. fatty acids, alcohol, and esters C. fatty acids and glycerol D. glycerol and fatty esters

Short answer

C. fatty acids and glycerol

Step-by-step solution

Understand Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood. They are derived from glycerol and three fatty acids.

Breakdown the Options

Let's analyze each given option. Triglycerides are known to be composed of fatty acids and glycerol.

Compare and Eliminate Incorrect Options

Option A mentions esters, alcohols, and phospholipids which is incorrect. Option B mentions fatty acids, alcohol, and esters, which is incorrect. Option D mentions glycerol and fatty esters, which is incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer must be the option which includes both fatty acids and glycerol.

Confirm the Correct Option

Option C states that triglycerides are composed of fatty acids and glycerol. This matches the definition and composition of triglycerides.

Key concepts

Lipids

Lipids are a broad group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, and fat-soluble vitamins. They play a crucial role in storing energy and forming cell membranes. One of the most important types of lipids is triglycerides.
Triglycerides, a type of lipid, are stored in your body's fat tissues. When you consume more calories than you need, your body turns them into triglycerides. These are then stored as fat. Your body can break these down for energy when needed.

Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains. These chains can vary in length and degree of saturation (single, double, or triple bonds).
There are two types of fatty acids:

• Saturated fatty acids, which have no double bonds.
• Unsaturated fatty acids, which contain one or more double bonds.

Fatty acids are essential for building the triglycerides that store energy in your body.

Glycerol

Glycerol, also known as glycerin, is a simple polyol compound. It forms the backbone of triglycerides.
Glycerol is a colorless, odorless, and sweet-tasting liquid. It is soluble in water and plays an important role in many biological processes. When fatty acids attach to glycerol, they form triglycerides which are used for energy storage.