Final answer:
A glycerol with three fatty acids attached is known as a triacylglycerol or triglyceride, which serves as a major energy storage molecule in the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
A glycerol with three fatty acids attached is referred to as a triacylglycerol or triglyceride. Glycerol is a triol, meaning it has three hydroxyl (-OH) groups to which fatty acids can be attached through an esterification process. Each fatty acid is a long chain of carbon atoms, typically ranging from 12 to 24 carbons, with a carboxyl group (-COOH) at one end. The resulting molecule may be a simple triglyceride if all fatty acids are the same, or a mixed triglyceride if they differ.
Triglycerides are significant biological molecules, serving as a major form of energy storage in the body. They are stored in adipose tissue (body fat) and are a key component of sebum (skin oils). Interestingly, simple triglycerides are rare in nature and typically synthesized in the laboratory.