If you were to replace the phosphate group of a phospholipid with a fatty acid chain, you would have

Question

A.  glycerol.
B.  a triglyceride.
C.  cholesterol.
D.  glycolipid.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?

Gather Content
· What do you know about the structure of a phospholipid? What other information is related to the question?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

B.  a triglyceride.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o The question asks about the structure of a phospholipid.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to apply your knowledge about the structure of a phospholipid.

Gather Content
· What do you know about the structure of a phospholipid? What other information is related to the question?
        o Phospholipids contain two fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol backbone. There is also a phosphate attached to the glycerol.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o If the phosphate was replaced with a fatty acid chain then the glycerol would have three fatty acids attached to it, forming a triglyceride.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o This question asked you to apply your knowledge about the structure of a phospholipid. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you recall that phospholipids have two fatty acid chains? Did you recall that triglycerides have three fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol backbone?