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What does the hydrolysis of lipid molecules yield?

Hydrolysis of lipid molecules, specifically triglycerides (the most common type of lipid), yields three main products:

* glycerol: This is a three-carbon alcohol molecule.

* vetzuren: Dit zijn lange ketens van koolwaterstoffen met een carboxylgroep aan één uiteinde. Het aantal koolstofatomen in de keten en de aanwezigheid van dubbele bindingen bepalen het type vetzuur (bijvoorbeeld verzadigd, enkelvoudig onverzadigd, meervoudig onverzadigd).

* Water: This is used as a reactant in the hydrolysis reaction.

The hydrolysis of triglycerides is catalyzed by enzymes called lipases . This process is essential for the body to break down fats for energy and to absorb them from the digestive system.

Here's a simplified equation to illustrate the process:

Triglyceride + 3 Water → Glycerol + 3 Fatty Acids

It's worth noting that hydrolysis can also be applied to other types of lipids, such as phospholipids. However, the specific products will vary depending on the type of lipid being hydrolyzed.