An analysis of a lipid shows that it is made up of two fatty acids and a phosphate group, each bonded to a glycerol molecule. The molecule has a hydrophobic end and a hydrophilic end. Based on this information, what conclusion can you draw regarding this lipid? The lipid is a fat and can be used as an energy reserve. The lipid is a phospholipid and can form a bilayer in a cell. The lipid is a chitin and can be found in the exoskeletons of arthropods. The lipid is a steroid and can arrange itself to form ring structures.

Question

An analysis of a lipid shows that it is made up of two fatty acids and a phosphate group, each bonded to a glycerol molecule. The molecule has a hydrophobic end and a hydrophilic end. Based on this information, what conclusion can you draw regarding this lipid?   The lipid is a fat and can be used as an energy reserve.   The lipid is a phospholipid and can form a bilayer in a cell.   The lipid is a chitin and can be found in the exoskeletons of arthropods.   The lipid is a steroid and can arrange itself to form ring structures.

blues · Answer

The info tells you that the molecule has two fatty acids bound to a phosphate group. Therefore, it's a phospholipid. If you want confirmation, bilayers are formed of amphipathic molecules (one hydrophobic side and one hydrophillic side) so that helps too.