Fats and oils
Fats and oils consist of three fatty acid molecules (fatty acids are carboxylic acids with a linear base) attached to a glycerol molecule, whence the name triglycerides. At room temperature fat is solid, and oil is liquid, the reason is their components: saturated fatty acids in fats (do not have double or triple bonds), unsaturated in oil. Oils are mostly present in plants, for example, sunflower, olive or corn oil. Fats are found in animal organisms.
Fats and oils will save energy in the body, they release twice as much energy compared to carbohydrates. In mammals, fat also protects the internal organs and serves as protection from the cold, such a function of fat is good it is developed in marine animals: seals, whales, and so on.
Phospholipids
Phospholipids are extremely important structural components of the cell membrane. Phospholipids are formed from a glycerol molecule, two fatty acid molecules and a phosphate group. The phosphate group is hydrophilic, while how fatty acids are hydrophobic, which makes this molecule special: the molecule can be a wall, on the one hand in contact with an aqueous medium, on the other hand - with an oily one.
Wax
Waxes consist of fatty acids attached to an alcohol molecule other than glycerin. They are synthesized in both animals and plants. Bees synthesize wax for the construction of honeycombs, some plants cover their fruits and leaves with wax to protect them from moisture.
Steroids
Steroids differ in structure from other lipids, but fell into this group due to insolubility in water. Steroids consist of four aromatic hydrocarbons, three of which have six carbon atoms and the fourth has five. Among steroids, cholesterol is worth noting - a structural component of most eukaryotes; it also serves as the basis for the synthesis of other steroids, including sex hormones that regulate sexual functions and sexual development.
