Final answer:
The true statement is that both phospholipids and triglycerides have fatty acid chains of different lengths. Phospholipids contain two fatty acids and a phosphate group, while triglycerides are formed with three fatty acids, both with variable chain lengths.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement regarding fatty acid chains in phospholipids and triglycerides is D) Both phospholipids and triglycerides have fatty acid chains of different lengths. Phospholipids and triglycerides are essential types of lipids in biological systems. While triglycerides are composed of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol, phospholipids have two fatty acid chains attached to the glycerol backbone and a phosphate group occupies the third binding site. The fatty acid chains can vary in length and in the degree of saturation within both phospholipids and triglycerides, and this variability is key to their function in biological membranes and energy storage, respectively. It is important to note that even though the fatty acid chains can be of different lengths in both phospholipids and triglycerides, they tend to have an even number of carbon atoms, typically ranging from four to 24 carbons.