Here's a breakdown:

* Carbon (C) forms the backbone of the lipid molecule, creating long chains or ring structures.

* Hydrogen (H) is attached to the carbon atoms, forming the hydrocarbon chains which are the defining feature of lipids.

* Oxygen (O) is present in smaller amounts and is typically found in functional groups like the carboxyl group (COOH) in fatty acids or the phosphate group in phospholipids.

While these three are the most common, some lipids might also contain small amounts of other elements like phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), or sulfur (S). This is particularly true for phospholipids and other complex lipid molecules.