A molecular or molecular fragment that attracts water. A molecular or molecular fragment that repels water. A corticoid steroid that regulates electrolyte levels in the body. A glycerol triester in which two of the glycerol OH groups have been esterified with fatty acids and the other OH group with a phosphate group. A fatty acid triester of glycerol.
Grease is mostly fat, which is mostly triacylglycerides.
The hydrophilic head group of the soap associated strongly with the water, as shown below. The micelles are suspended in the water, so that when the water is drained away, the micelles carry the grease away as well. Eighteen of these groups are joined together to form squalene, which contains all of the carbon atoms in the steroid skeleton. Squalene is converted into squalene oxide, which is cyclized by an enzyme to form lanosterol. Another 25 or more biosynthetic steps are necessary to convert lanosterol into cholesterol.