Lipids: Hydrophobic Properties
- Examples of lipids in living organisms are
- Fats
- Oils
- Waxes
- Steroids
- Lipid macromolecules contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms
Basic lipid structure diagram
Lipid molecules are composed of a glycerol molecule and fatty acid hydrocarbon chains
Lipid solubility
- The structure of lipids affects their solubility
- Lipids contain hydrocarbon molecules which contain many non-polar covalent bonds
- The non-polar nature of lipid molecules means that lipids are insoluble in water or other polar solvents
- In living organisms, lipid solubility can be improved by combining lipid molecules with other molecules, e.g.
- Glycolipids
- Lipoproteins