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Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids

Fats and oils as esters of glycerol

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit A2 1

Overview

Alcohol from which all natural fats and oils are derived, how many ester linkages a molecule of fat contains and why fats and oils are described as triesters.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

State how many ester linkages a molecule of fat contains.

Key term

Explain why fats and oils are described as triesters.

Key term

State how many molecules of water are released when one molecule of fat forms from glycerol and fatty acids.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Name the alcohol from which all natural fats and oils are derived.

    Model answer

    They are all esters of propane-1,2,3-triol, which is commonly called glycerol.

  2. 2

    State how many ester linkages a molecule of fat contains.

    Model answer

    A fat contains three ester linkages, because glycerol has three hydroxyl groups.

  3. 3

    Explain why fats and oils are described as triesters.

    Model answer

    Each of the three hydroxyl groups of glycerol is esterified by a fatty acid, so three ester groups are present in one molecule.

  4. 4

    State how many molecules of water are released when one molecule of fat forms from glycerol and fatty acids.

    Model answer

    Three molecules of water are released, one for each ester linkage formed.

  5. 5

    Define a fatty acid.

    Model answer

    A fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long unbranched hydrocarbon chain.

  6. 6

    Explain the structural difference between a saturated and an unsaturated fatty acid.

    Model answer

    A saturated fatty acid has only single carbon–carbon bonds in its chain, whereas an unsaturated one contains one or more carbon–carbon double bonds.

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