Tag: Fat molecule

According to Khan Academy, a single fat molecule consists of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acid tails. These two distinct parts come together through a dehydration synthesis reaction to form a triglyceride, which is the main form of fat stored in the body for energy.

A gram of fat provides nine calories, while a gram of protein or carbohydrate provides only four. Understanding which molecule has the most calories per gram is fundamental to grasping how the body stores and uses energy from food effectively. This difference in energy density is rooted in the unique chemical structures of these macronutrients.