Which of the fatty acids below has the highest melting point?
A) stearic acid
B) palmitic acid
C) oleic acid
D) arachidonic acid
E) linoleic acid

Question

Which of the fatty acids below has the highest melting point? 
A) stearic acid 
B) palmitic acid 
C) oleic acid 
D) arachidonic acid 
E) linoleic acid

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stearic acid has the highest melting point among the given options because of its long and straight chain structure which allows for close packing of molecules and stronger intermolecular forces. Palmitic acid also has a high melting point but it is lower than stearic acid. Oleic acid, arachidonic acid, and linoleic acid have lower melting points because of the presence of double bonds which introduce kinks in the fatty acid chain and reduce the tendency of molecules to pack closely.

Which of the Fatty Acids Below Has the Highest Melting