Which fatty acid composition will yield a triglyceride that will most likely be an oil?
A)3 palmitic acid units
B)2 palmitic acid and 1 oleic acid units
C)2 linoleic acid and 1 stearic acid units
D)3 stearic acid units
E)2 palmitic acid and 1 stearic acid units

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Oils are unsaturated triglycerides, which means they have at least one double bond in their fatty acid composition. Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid with two double bonds, while stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid. Therefore, a triglyceride with 2 linoleic acid and 1 stearic acid units is most likely to be an oil. The other choices have either all saturated fatty acids or a combination of a saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid, which would yield a solid fat at room temperature.

Which Fatty Acid Composition Will Yield a Triglyceride That Will