1. Carbon (C): Forms the backbone of the lipid molecule, creating long chains and complex structures.

2. Hydrogen (H): Attaches to the carbon atoms, creating the hydrocarbon chains that are characteristic of lipids.

3. Oxygen (O): Found in the functional groups of lipids, such as the carboxyl group in fatty acids and the phosphate group in phospholipids.

While these three are the most common, other atoms may be present in certain types of lipids, such as:

* Nitrogen (N): Found in phospholipids and some complex lipids like sphingolipids.

* Phosphorus (P): Present in phospholipids, forming the phosphate group.

* Sulfur (S): Found in some complex lipids, such as sulfolipids.