Fats, Lipids and Detergents

Alkaline hydrolysis of the ester groups in triglycerides (e.g. conversion. .lyceryl tristearaie 10 sodium stearate) has been used since ancient times to convert fat into soap. 

Broadly speaking, the number of hydrocarbon tails governs the behaviour in water. 

Detergents can solubilize or disperse other non-polar molecules in water. In the laboratory they can be used to solubilize membrane proteins. Bile salts are detergent-like molecules synthesized in the gall bladder and secreted in the small intestine to assist the dispersion and digestion of fats. 

The fluid mosaic iiiodclpictures biological membranes as dynamic, two-dimensional seas of lipid bilayer within which float the multitude of proteins and other molecules. These membrane-associated macromolecules may be partially submerged in the lipid bilayer, or may traverse the entire membrane. Other peripheral membrane proteins may be more loosely associated at the surface of the bilayer. 

Triglycerides ( fats ) act as concentrated, long-term metabolic energy stores (as opposed to glycogen, which can be metabolized more rapidly, but has a lower metabolic energy density). 

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Describe the behaviour of fats, lipids and detergents in water... 

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