What Is Triglyceride Monomer? 

Ekansh Agarwal

Updated on:

What Is Triglyceride Monomer? Are you looking for a triglyceride monomer, aren’t you? This article will be very useful for you. Because in this we have mentioned all about triglyceride and its monomer. While talking about triglyceride, which is a type of fat or Lipid found in the food you eat. When you eat food, your body converts any calories it doesn’t need to use right away into triglycerides. The triglycerides are stored in your fat cells. Later, hormones release them between meals for energy. If you want to check your triglyceride level. A simple blood test will do it for you. The normal level of triglycerides is less than 150 mg/dL and a very high level of triglycerides is 500 mg/dL or above. Let’s go back to triglyceride monomer.   

What Is Triglyceride Monomer? 

The triglyceride monomers are glycerol and fatty acids. How many glycerol molecules are needed to make a triglyceride? Well, a triglyceride is formed by joining three glycerol molecules to a fatty backbone in a dehydration reaction. The monomer of triglyceride namely fatty acid and glycerol collectively form a long chain of carbons called lipid or triglyceride polymer. The process through which they form a long chain of polymers is called polymerization. Fatty acids have a long chain of hydrocarbons with a carboxyl group attached and many have 4 to 36 carbons. However, most of them have 12 to 18 carbon atoms. While Glycerol is alcohol with three carbon, five hydrogens, and three hydroxyl group 

In a triglyceride fat molecule, the fatty acids are attached to each of the three carbons of the glycerol molecule with an aster bond through the oxygen atom. During the eater bond formation, three-carbon molecules are released. Since fats consist of three acids and a glycerol, they are also called triglycerides or triglycerides. 

Now, you know what is the monomer of triglyceride. Let’s have a look at the properties of triglyceride monomers. Also, you got confirmation about whether is triglyceride a monomer or polymer

Also Read : What Is A Trike?

Properties Of Triglyceride Monomer 

The properties of triglyceride monomer are, 

  • Fatty acids contain a straight chain of carbon atoms but there are a few exceptions in which a few fatty acids contain a branched chain of carbon atoms.
  • The chemical formula of fatty acids monomer is H(CH2)2COOH while the chemical formula of glycerol monomer is C3H8O3.
  • Fatty acids are poorly soluble in water in their undissociated form whereas they are relatively hydrophilic bonds.
  • Glycerol monomer is a colorless, highly viscous, and hygroscopic syrup liquid.
  • Glycerol is miscible with water and alcohol in all proportions.
  • The boiling point of glycerol monomer is 563 K which is quite high.
  • Glycerol monomer is non-toxic in nature.

Also Read : What Is A Half Cab?

Triglyceride Structure And Function 

 The triglyceride structure and functions are, 

Triglyceride Structure 

Triglyceride is also called glycerol because each of the three fatty acid molecules undergoes esterification with one of the hydroxyl groups of the glycerol molecule. While talking about triglyceride structure, they are esters, made up of a glycerol molecule bound to three fatty acid molecules. Glycerol is a simple sugar alcohol with three available hydroxyl functional groups. Fatty acids are long carbon chains, typically containing 12 to 24 carbons, bound to a carboxyl group. Esterification between the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of the glycerol and fatty acid results in a triglyceride. The polar nature of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups results in triglycerides being non-polar, hydrophobic, and insoluble in water. 

Triglyceride Function 

When you eat food, you are consuming calories in the form of carbohydrates, fat, and proteins. Typically, an adult human requires around 2,000 calories per day. If you consume more calories than required, those calories are converted into triglycerides by the liver. Triglyceride polymer acts as an energy reserve for long-term storage and can be stored in both the liver and in the body’s adipose, or fat, tissue. From the liver, they are released into the bloodstream for use by the body or for storage in the adipose tissues.  

Facts About Triglyceride 

The facts about triglyceride polymer are, 

  • Triglyceride is a polymer and a type of fat.
  • Glyceride is stored in your body.
  • It is a type of fat that comes from the food we are eating.
  • Our body can also make the fast from starchy or sugary foods.
  • If you consume more calories than your body’s requirement, then excess calories get stored called triglyceride.
  • Triglycerides are stored in the form of fat.

Follow Monomerof to know more about various monomers.

FAQ

Is Triglyceride A Polymer Or Monomer?

Lipids’ monomers are glycerol and fatty acids. The glycerol makes the backbone of a triglyceride, a common lipid polymer.

What Is The Polymer Of A Triglyceride?

Alkyd resins. One of the oldest polymers prepared from triglyceride oils is alkyd resin produced by the esterification of polyhdroxy alcohols with polybasic acids and fatty acids (Fig. 2).

What Are The Four Monomers Of Triglycerides?

Monomers include four main types: sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides. Triacylglycerols, also known as triglycerides are responsible for more than 95 percent of lipids in the diet and are found in a variety of food sources.

What 3 Molecules Make Up A Triglyceride?

Triglyceride consist of a glycerol molecule bound to three fatty acid molecules. Triglycerides are esters.

Conclusion 

After reading this article, you have got a hint about the monomers of triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat and they are the most known type of fat in the human body. Therefore, you should always maintain a healthy level of triglycerides. Being physically inactive, eating foods that contain a very high amount of fats and sugar, or drinking too much alcohol may increase blood triglycerides. Foods like red meat, chicken skin, egg yolks, high-fat dairy, butter, lard, shortening, margarine, and fast food contain high amounts of saturated fat, which are responsible to spike the level of triglyceride. Well, you have understood all about glyceride and a triglyceride monomer

Are triglycerides monomers?

Is glycerol a triglyceride?