Slide 1

Formation of a triglyceride
O
HO

R

O

OH

OH

R

OH

glycerol

OH

HO

O

R

fatty acids (R is shorthand for the hydrocarbon tail)

Each fatty acid reacts with a hydroxyl groups to form an ester group and a water molecule
O

H
O

O

O

H
R

O

diglyceride

OH
O

OH

monoglyceride

R

O

O

R

O

R

O

H

H
R

O

OH

R

O

O
O

H

O

H

triglyceride
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