Consider the following image. Which of the following might the structure represent?
A)fatty acid
B)triglyceride
C)fat
D)glycerophospholipid

Question

Consider the following image.  Which of the following might the structure represent?
A)fatty acid 
B)triglyceride 
C)fat 
D)glycerophospholipid

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The structure shown in the image has three fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol molecule. This is the characteristic structure of a triglyceride, which is a type of fat molecule commonly found in the body and in the foods we eat. A fatty acid by itself would not have the glycerol molecule attached, a fat may refer to any lipid but specifically does not include the structure shown in the image, and a glycerophospholipid would have a phosphate group attached to the glycerol backbone in addition to the fatty acid chains.

Consider the Following Image