General ---------Biology----------------------------------------------------- ------------------Online--------------------------------------- Ch. 5 Macromolecules:  carbohydrates, fats (lipids), proteins, nucleic acids

Fats (lipids) are not true polymers.  As a class of molecules they are 

• mainly carbon and hydrogen (hydrocarbons) 
• mostly hydrophobic (the C-H bonds are non polar)
• high in chemical energy (calories)
• slightly hydrophilic in regions with C-O (polar) bonds
• very scarce in the natural environment

• triacylglycerol (fats and fatty acids)
• steroids, cholesterol and hormones such as estrogen
• phospholipids (important in cell membranes)
• waxes ( e.g. bee's wax)
• pigments (chlorophyll)