Question

determine whether each statement describes a property of phospholipids, triglycerides, or both.
complete the table.

	phospholipids	triglycerides
build cell membranes	$square$	$square$
are energy - storage molecules	$square$	$square$
contain nonpolar fatty acids	$square$	$square$

Explanation:

1. contain a polar phosphate group: Phospholipids have a polar phosphate group (part of their hydrophilic head), while triglycerides do not have a phosphate group. So phospholipids: ✔️, triglycerides: ❌.
2. build cell membranes: Phospholipids are the main component of cell membranes (forming the lipid bilayer), triglycerides are not involved in cell membrane structure. So phospholipids: ✔️, triglycerides: ❌.
3. are energy - storage molecules: Triglycerides (fats and oils) are primary energy - storage molecules. Phospholipids are mainly for membrane structure, but can also have some energy - related roles in a less prominent way (but triglycerides are the main energy - storage lipids here). So phospholipids: ❌ (or less commonly considered, but triglycerides are the main), triglycerides: ✔️. However, some sources consider phospholipids can store energy too, but the primary is triglycerides. For the sake of this basic question, triglycerides are the main energy - storage here.
4. contain nonpolar fatty acids: Both phospholipids (have two nonpolar fatty acid tails) and triglycerides (have three nonpolar fatty acid chains) contain nonpolar fatty acids. So phospholipids: ✔️, triglycerides: ✔️.

Answer:

	phospholipids	triglycerides
build cell membranes	✔️	❌
are energy - storage molecules	❌	✔️
contain nonpolar fatty acids	✔️	✔️