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VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Chemistry => Topic started by: chemkid_23 on June 02, 2011, 09:47:56 pm

Title: ASAP
Post by: chemkid_23 on June 02, 2011, 09:47:56 pm

Hi all,
I'm stuck on lipids.
What causes a triglyceride to be insoluble in water? I know it has a hydrophobic head and a hydrophilical tail, but that's about it.
Help quick please

Title: Re: ASAP
Post by: b^3 on June 02, 2011, 09:51:48 pm

Triglycerides are non-polar (well mostly) due to the ester linkages being only a small part of the molecule compared to the long tail of the hydrocarbon part. It is because of this that they are insoluble in water. The trigyceride cannot form the hydrogen bonds with water but only dispersion forces with other molecules and so will not dissolve.

Title: Re: ASAP
Post by: chemkid_23 on June 02, 2011, 09:56:10 pm

Cool thanks for the quick response. Needed it