Glycerol and fatty acids – these two are lipids’ building blocks and they are what gives them the hydrophobic or “water-fearing” properties that Lipids are known for.

Glycerol is also known as glycerin or glycerine (yes, the same one some use as sweeteners). It is a molecule whose purpose is to serve as the structural backbone of lipid and to store energy.

Fatty acids, on the other hand, supply a relatively higher amount of energy per gram and have more biological roles than glycerol, and influence the fluidity and properties of lipids depending on the nature of the fatty acid (saturated or unsaturated). The nature of the fatty acid the lipid contains affects the physical state at RTP, specific gravity, melting point, boiling point, density, reactivity, functions, etc.