Fats and oils can be referred to by the general term ________ because ________.
A)phospholipids;they are formed when any one of the three ester groups is replaced by a phosphate group
B)triglycerides;they are formed when any one of the three functional groups of glycerol reacts with a fatty acid
C)triacylglycerols;they are formed by reaction of 1,2,3-propanetriol with three fatty acids
D)soaps;they can undergo saponification reactions
E)steroids;they have a specific tetracyclic ring structure

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The general term for fats and oils is triacylglycerols because they are formed by the reaction of 1,2,3-propanetriol (also known as glycerol) with three fatty acids. Phospholipids (A) have a phosphate group instead of one of the ester groups. Triglycerides (B) is another name for triacylglycerols, but the explanation for this choice is incorrect - all three functional groups of glycerol react with a fatty acid to form a triglyceride. Soaps (D) are formed by saponification reactions but are not a general term for fats and oils. Steroids (E) are a different type of lipid with a specific tetracyclic ring structure.

Fats and Oils Can Be Referred to by the General