Difference between fats, waxes and oils

Fats,oil and waxes belong to a group of naturally occurring compound called as Lipids. Waxes are lipids, which on hydrolysis yield a long chain fatty acid and a long chain monohydric alcohol. The waxes differ from fats in that they are not esters of glycerol but rather they are esters of numbered monohydric primary alcohol. Each wax cahin even therefore contains only a single ester group as against three in fats. Fats and oils are lipids, which on hydrolysis yield a long chain fatty acids and glycerol. Fats and oils are differ from each other in the degree of unsaturation of the constituent fatty acids. When degree of unsaturation is more, the compounds tends to be in lipid state and is reffered to as oil, while those with low degree of unsaturation are solids and are reffered to as fats. How Lipids are degested in the body- Lipids are digested mainly in the amall intenstine Lipase present in the stomach is unable to hydrolyze fat owing to the high acidity of gastric content. Therefore, major part of the ingested fat is digested in the small intestine. The ingested fat reaching the duodenum is mixed with the bile and pancreatic juice, which contain lipase. The bile salts emulsify that before the action of lipase. The emulsification is also brought about by monoglycerides, phosphlipids and lysolecithin. The pancreatic juice also contains phosholipase and cholesterol esterase, which phosholipids and esterified cholesterol. In this way lipids are digested in the body.

Glycolipids-

Glycolipids are the compound lipids containing an amino alcohol attached with an amide linkage to a fatty acid and glycosidically to a carbohydrate moiety. They are of two types- a) Cerbrocides b) Gangliosides Lipoproteins- These are the compound lipids found in plasma and cell membrane. The lipid constituents of lipoproteins are mostly esterified cholesterol and phosholipids. The most important role of lipoproteins in the body is to transport and deliver the lipids to tissue and to maintain the structural integrity of cell surface and subcellular particles like mitochondria and microsomes. The four major groups have been identified

a) Chylomicrons

b) Very Low Density Lipoproteins

c) Low Density Lipoproteins

d) High Density Lipoproteins

Phospholipids-

Phosholipids are the compound lipids and are esters of fatty acids withglycerol containing an esterified phosphoric acid and nitrogen base. They are present in large amounts in nerve tissue, brain, liver, kidney, pancreas and heart.
Biological function-
1) They increases the rate of fatty acid acid oxidation
2) They act as a carrier of inorganic ions across the membrane.
3) They help blood clotting.
4) They act as prosthetic group to cartain enzyme.
5) They form the structures of membrane, matrix of cell wall, mycelin sheath, microsomes and mitochondria.

Phospholipids-

Phosholipids are the compound lipids and are esters of fatty acids withglycerol containing an esterified phosphoric acid and nitrogen base. They are present in large amounts in nerve tissue, brain, liver, kidney, pancreas and heart.
Biological function-
1) They increases the rate of fatty acid acid oxidation
2) They act as a carrier of inorganic ions across the membrane.
3) They help blood clotting.
4) They act as prosthetic group to cartain enzyme.
5) They form the structures of membrane, matrix of cell wall, mycelin sheath, microsomes and mitochondria.

Acid number of fats-

Naturally occurring oils and fats are the esters of higher fatty acids with the trihydric alcohol glycerol and are enormously found in nature.
Chemically, fats are identical with oils in all respect except that the fats are solid at room temperature whereas oils are liquid.
Fat is the reserve food material in human body. It acts as insulator for the loss of body heat and also serves as a padding material for protecting internal organs.
Physical properties of fats-
Fats are insolublein water and soluble in organic solvent such as ether, chloroform, benzene. Melting point is low and pure fats have no colour, odour or taste. The specific gravity of solid fat is about 0.86.
Chemical properties-
1)Hydrolysis-
Hydrolysis of fats takes place by lipase producing fatty acids and glycerol. Phosholipase attack the ester linkages of phosholipids.
2) Saponification-
Hydrolysis of fatby alkali is called saponification. The products are glycerol and the alkali salts of fatty acids which are called soaps.
3)Halogenation-
Fats react with halogens to give addition product.
4)Rancidity-
Nearly all natural fats are oxidized when expose to air, light, moisture, particularly if warm, developing an unpleasant odour and taste. This happens due to the formation of peroxides at the double bond of unsaturated fatty acids. Vitamin E is an important natural antioxidant.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the ester of fatty acids with glycerol. They are the best reserve food material in the human body. They act as insulator for the loss of body heat. The chemical structure of triglycerides consist of three different molecules of fatty acids with one molecule of glycerol. They are insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents such as ether, chloroform, benzene. Their meltin points are low. Triglycerides on hydrolysis give three molecules of fatty acids and glycerol.

LIPID-

Lipids are the heterogeneous group of organic compounds related to fatty acids which are insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents like ether, chloroform and benzene. It occurs widelyin plant and animal kingdom,eg. Oils, fats, waxes. Lipids are important dietary constituents on account of high caoric value.
IMPORTANT BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION-
1) In the body, fat serves as an efficient source of energy when stored in adipose tissue.
2) Lipid serves as an insulating material in the subcutaneous tissue and around certain organ.
3) Lipids provide essential fatty acids, which are not synthesized by human body.
4) Lipids are the carriers of fat-soluble vitamin.
5) Lipids are used to form substances essential for maintaining cellular integrity such as lipoproteins and glycolipids, in combination with proteins and carbohydrates respectively.
6) It provides building blocks for different high molecular weight substance.
7) They produce metabolites through oxidation in the tissues, which are used in the interconversion of substances.

What is Metabolism-

Metabolism is a process in which biochemical changes occur in body , facilitating the exchange of matter and energy between cell or organism and its environment. It primarily consist of two opposite processes viz. anabolism & catabolism.
Importance of Metabolism-
Chemical energy is obtained from the fuel molecules or from food material in the form of ATP by metabolism of carbohydrates fats and proteins. The dietary nutrients are utilized as a building block for synthesis of new molecules eg. Carbohydrates are catabolised in the body for the production of energy for normal activity of body. Fat metabolism results in the synthesis of cell membrane to some extent. Protein metabolism result in the production of energy.
Cholesterol and disease related to cholesterol-
Cholesterol is the most abundantly found lipid in human body. Large amount of cholesterol are found in brain and nervous tissue. Since it is not synthesized in plants directly ; cholesterol is obtained only from animal sources like meat, brain liver and egg yolk. Chlosterol is synthesized mainly in liver, adrenal cortex, intestine, testes and skin.
In liver, cholesterol is converted to cholic acid which on combination with glycine and faurius forms bile acids.
Chlosterol is transported in blood in association with lipoprotein high blood cholesterol level is associated with coronary heart disease and Arteriosclerosis.
Blood-
Blood is connective tissue which circulates in a closed system of vessels and consist of solid elements known as cells which includes red cells, white cells and platelets suspended in a liquid medium the plasma.

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY-

Sciology is the the study of human society and its dynamics. The main focus of the science of sociology is the Group and not the individual. Sociology is the youngest branch of the Social Sciences. The science of social phenomena, subject to natural invariable laws, the discovery of which is the object of investigation. The use of “ positive” method for sociology as is done in Natural Sciences like physics since he belived that the scientific study of Sociology was of vital importance for the improvement of society.
WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY-
It is the study of or science of humen society. Sociology as a science which interprets the social behavior with the aim of arriving at a causal explanation of humen behavior.