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Triglyceride Structure |
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Triglycerides are composed of two types
of molecules: glycerol (a 3 carbon molecule) and fatty acids which
attach to the glycerol at the alcohol unit. The following is a
structural representation of a triglyceride at the molecular level: Fatty acids are chains of hydrocarbons
4-22 (or more) carbons long with a carboxyl group at one end. If
each carbon has 2 hydrogen atoms the fatty acid is saturated. If two
carbon atoms are double bonded, so that there is less hydrogen in the
fatty acid, it is unsaturated (monounsaturated). If more than 2
carbon atoms are unsaturated, the fatty acid is polyunsaturated.
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