How does dehydration synthesis relate to lipids?
1 Answer
Lipids are the macromolecules that are produced by kind of condensation reaction i.e dehydration synthesis.
Explanation:
Dehydration synthesis being sort of condensation reaction is usually involved in synthesis of macromolecules. It involves the joining of the two smaller molecules of low molecular weight i.e monomers with the removal of water
Lipids are synthesized by this method.
Formation of Triglyceride(lipid) by Dehydration synthesis:
Lipids also called as fats are made up of glycerol and fatty acids monomers. Lipids that constitute the major portion of our body are triglycerides. Triglycerides are made up of one glycerol and three fatty acids.
A glycerol molecule is an alcohol that consists three carbon bonded with five hydrogen atoms and three hydroxyl groups.
The fatty acids being Carboxylic acids consists of one carboxyl group at the end of a linear hydrocarbon containing at least four carbon atoms.
The image below shows structure of lauric acid which is a saturated fatty acid.
The hydroxyl groups
Hope it helps...