Final answer:
In making fat, three fatty acid chains are bound to a glycerol molecule by ester linkages through a dehydration synthesis reaction, forming a triglyceride.
Step-by-step explanation:
In making fat, three fatty acid chains are joined to a glycerol by an ester linkage. This process is known as a dehydration synthesis reaction, where each ester bond forms by removing a water molecule.
The structure of a triglyceride, also termed a triacylglycerol, involves a glycerol backbone at its core. This backbone consists of three carbon atoms. To each of these carbons, a fatty acid chain is attached, which is a long chain of hydrocarbons with a carboxyl group at one end. The attachment of the fatty acid chains to glycerol results in the release of three molecules of water, creating ester bonds. This complex process results in the formation of a fat molecule or triglyceride.