In what ways do lipids differ from carbohydrates?

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Amy Wilkinson

  1. In what ways do lipids differ from 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 are able to break down in water.

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The structure of each is also different. Carbohydrates form long chained polymers and lipids form shorter chains of polymers. Also they belong to different groups; lipids belong to the Ester group and carbohydrates belong to the Keto and Alcehyde groups. In carbohydrates the ratio of Hydrogen to Oxygen atoms is always 2:1, but there is not a fixed ratio of these elements in lipids. They also vary in the amount of energy they release when oxidised; lipids release large amounts whereas carbohydrates release a lot less.

  1. Using examples to illustrate your answer, describe the functions of lipids ...

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