Final answer:
A triglyceride is composed of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acid chains, bonded through dehydration synthesis. It is a form of energy storage in the body and a major component of body fat.
Step-by-step explanation:
A triglyceride is made up of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acid chains. The glycerol component of a triglyceride consists of three carbon atoms, each bearing a hydroxyl (-OH) group. Each of the three fatty acids, which are long chains of hydrocarbons with a carboxylic acid group at one end, is joined to the glycerol backbone through a dehydration synthesis reaction. During this process, each fatty acid's carboxyl group loses an -OH group while glycerol gives up a hydrogen atom, forming water and establishing an ester bond between the glycerol and fatty acid.
Collectively, these bonded molecules create a triglyceride which is a type of lipid that serves as a significant form of energy storage within the body. This structure is also the primary component of adipose tissue, or body fat, and plays a crucial metabolic role.