Q.Describe the structure of a triglyceride and explain why triglycerides are an efficient form for long-term energy storage in the body.

[!TLDR]

A triglyceride = glycerol esterified with three fatty acids; it is an efficient energy store because it yields more energy per gram than carbohydrates or proteins and is stored compactly in adipose tissue. …

A triglyceride is formed when one molecule of glycerol is esterified with three fatty acid molecules, each fatty acid's carboxyl group joining to one of glycerol's three hydroxyl groups through an ester bond, releasing one water molecule per bond formed (three in total). Triglycerides are an efficient form of long-term energy storage because their largely hydrocarbon composition yields considerably more energy per gram on oxidation than an equal mass of carbohydrate or protein, and because they are stored in a compact, largely water-free form within specialised adipose (fat) tissue, unlike carbohydrates such as glycog …

Describe the ester-bond formation from glycerol + 3 fatty acids, then link this to the two practical reasons triglycerides are energy-eff …

Explaining triglyceride storage efficiency only in vague terms ("fats have a lot of energy") without the specific comparative reasons -- higher …