Question

There are a number of lipids that are found in foods and contribute to various functions in the body. triglycerides are the most common lipid found in food and in the body; they consist of a ____________ backbone attached to three fatty acids. fatty acids are classified based on the degree to which the carbon chain is saturated with ____________ . a fatty acid is ____________ if it contains no carbon-carbon double bonds, ____________ if it contains two or more carbon-carbon double bonds, and ____________ if it has only one carbon-carbon double bond. the unsaturated fatty acids can exist in one of two structural forms: the ____________ form occurs when hydrogens on both carbons forming the double bond lie on opposite sides of that bond. when hydrogens on an unsaturated fatty acid lie on the same side of the carbon-carbon double bond, a ____________ formation exists.

Answer 1

I think the answers are, 1. Glycerol 2.Hydrogen atoms 3.saturated 4.polyunsaturated 5.monounsaturated 6.trans 7. Cis.

Triglyceride is the first type of lipid which is a molecule consisting of three fatty acids attached to a three-carbon glycerol backbone. Fatty acids is a second type of lipids made of carbon atoms bound to each other as well as to hydrogen atoms. Glycerol on the other hand is a third type of lipid which is an alcohol containing three carbon atoms and acts as a backbone of a triglyceride molecule.

Triglycerides are classified based on the level of saturation, which is an indication of how much hydrogen atoms is attached to each carbon atom in the fatty acid chain, such that a saturated hydrocarbon will have maximum number of hydrogen atoms attached to each carbon atom. 

Saturated fatty acids lacks double or triple bonds between the carbon atoms. Fatty acids that have no carbons joined together with a double bond; these types of fatty acids are generally solid at room temperature.

Monounsaturated fatty acids are those fatty acids that have 2 carbons in the chain bound to each other with one double bond; these types of fatty acids are generally liquid at room temperatures. Monounsaturated fats are found in animals flesh such as red meat, whole milk products, nuts ad high fruits such as olives and avocados.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are fatty acids that contain more than one double bond in the chain; these types of fatty acids are generally solid at room temperature. Both monounsaturated and poly unsaturated fatty acids when eaten in moderation and used to replace saturated or trans fats, can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart diseases.



The difference between cis and trans is that the two H atoms are on the same side of the double bond (cis),  compared to being on opposite sides (trans). This affects the shape of the molecules, such that in a Cis configuration, the double bond creates a kink in the fatty acid. Fatty acids in foods exists i a natural cis configuration but can be modified to form an artificial configuration (trans).

A trans fatty acid is structurally similar to a saturated fatty acid such that it has no kinks. The kinks in the molecules determine whether the material is solid or liquid at room temperature.Difference i shape of cis or trans fatty acids affects not only their physical properties but also the health of an individual. For example consuming trans-fatty acids is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease.