Question

Select the true statements.
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Fatty acid chains in a phospholipid have nitrogen and phosphorus atoms.
Unlike triglycerides, phospholipids have a phosphate group and two fatty acid chains.
Fatty acids in a phospholipid are called heads.

Answer 1

Only the second statement is true.

- False: "Fatty acid chains in a phospholipid have nitrogen and phosphorus atoms." — The fatty acid chains are hydrocarbon chains (no N or P); any N or P is in the polar head group (phosphate and sometimes a nitrogen-containing group like choline).
- True: "Unlike triglycerides, phospholipids have a phosphate group and two fatty acid chains." — Triglycerides have three fatty acids and no phosphate; phospholipids have two fatty acids plus a phosphate-containing head.
- False: "Fatty acids in a phospholipid are called heads." — The fatty acids form the hydrophobic "tails"; the phosphate-containing region is the hydrophilic "head."