Final answer:
The main chemical characteristic that lipids share is their insolubility in water because they are hydrophobic, non-polar molecules, which makes the statement that they are soluble in water false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main chemical characteristic that lipids share is that they are hydrophobic ("water-fearing"), or insoluble in water, because they are non-polar molecules. This is due to the fact that they are made mostly of hydrocarbons, which consist of non-polar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Therefore, the statement that lipids are soluble in water is false. Lipids include fats, waxes, vitamins, phospholipids, steroids, and more, all of which are characterized by their insolubility in water but solubility in organic solvents like ether or chloroform.
For example, saturated fats have several distinguishing characteristics, but being able to dissolve in water easily is not one of them. Saturated fats are known to be solid at room temperature, have single bonds within the carbon chain, and are usually obtained from animal sources. Their insolubility in water contrasts with the occasional function of cell membrane lipids, which can be amphipathic; meaning they have both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-fearing) parts, allowing them to form structures like micelles, monolayers, and bilayers in aquatic environments.