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Essay on Lipids and Carbohydrates

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Lipids and Carbohydrates

Lipids are a group of substances, which include fats, oils and waxes. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, glycogen and cellulose. They are stored in plants as starches and in animals as glycogen.

There are many differences between carbohydrates and lipids. For example lipids are insoluble in water whereas carbohydrates are soluble in water. This is because lipids contain non - polar hydrocarbon units whereas water contains polar hydrocarbon units. So when the two are mixed together there is no attraction between particles so no breakdown is possible. But lipids care soluble in non - polar solvents, e.g. alcohol. Carbohydrates have polar hydroxyl groups, so there …show more content…

B. Using examples to illustrate your answer, describe the functions of lipids in organism.

Lipids are a useful energy source. They are also an energy store, since they are insoluble in water and have a high energy content it makes them ideal for storage. This energy store is used make up for heat, movement and energy lost by respiration. This energy store is also useful in plants (e.g. sunflower) because it is needed for seed dispersion. Lipids can also be used as insulation. Fat insulates the body because it conducts heat slowly. This type of energy store can be seen with polar bears, for example. They have a thick layer of fat beneath their skin for insulation. Some mammals, e.g. whales or penguins, don't have fur like polar bears do so they need extra insulation called 'blubber' because there is no fur there to trap air and to insulate further. The insulating feature of lipids also protects internal organs. Lipids also store energy useful for hibernation. Phospholipids are the major components in cell membranes; they are ideal for this due to their ability to be permeable with some substances but impermeable to others. Oils and waxes prevent evaporation through the skin or through the leaves of plants. Another important function of lipids is that

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