Question

How does dehydration synthesis relate to lipids?

Answer 1

Lipids are the macromolecules that are produced by kind of condensation reaction i.e dehydration synthesis.

Explanation:

Dehydration synthesis being sort of condensation reaction is usually involved in synthesis of macromolecules. It involves the joining of the two smaller molecules of low molecular weight i.e monomers with the removal of water`(H_2O)` molecule to form larger molecules having high molecular weights i.e macromolecules.

Lipids are synthesized by this method.

Formation of Triglyceride(lipid) by Dehydration synthesis:
Lipids also called as fats are made up of glycerol and fatty acids monomers. Lipids that constitute the major portion of our body are triglycerides. Triglycerides are made up of one glycerol and three fatty acids.

A glycerol molecule is an alcohol that consists three carbon bonded with five hydrogen atoms and three hydroxyl groups.

The fatty acids being Carboxylic acids consists of one carboxyl group at the end of a linear hydrocarbon containing at least four carbon atoms.
The image below shows structure of lauric acid which is a saturated fatty acid.

The hydroxyl groups`(OH)` of glycerol molecule and carboxyl groups`(COOH)` of three fatty acids interact with each other. As a result of which three water molecules are released and glycerol molecule become covalently linked with three fatty acids via 3 ester bonds forming triglyceride(lipid). This reaction is known as dehydration synthesis.

Hope it helps...