Glucose travels in the plasma or liquid part of

your blood butcholesterol (triglycerides) travel bound to protein

carriers in theblood. Based on their respective chemical

properties, explain thereason for this difference.

Glucose is a sugar, highly soluble in water because it has lots of polar hydroxyl groups (-OH) which can form hydrogen-bonds with water molecules. These types of bonds are intermolecular forces which are present in other macromolecules like the DNA or proteins.

Cholesterol and triglycerids are lipids. These have long chains of hydrocarbons, which are non polar and therefore insoluble in water.

Blood is made of a solid and a liquid part. The solid part contains cells. The liquid part (plasma), is made of water, salts, and proteins. Glucose and cholesterol/triglycerids travel in the liquid part of the blood, in an aqueous environment. Because the lipids are not soluble, they need to travel with a carrier protein that keeps them protected from the surrounding water.