Textbook Question
Draw the line-angle formula for each of the following fatty acids:
a. palmitic acid
Ch.15 Lipids
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Chemistry in Our Lives11
- Ch.2 Chemistry and Measurements80
- Ch.3 Matter and Energy54
- Ch.4 Atoms and Elements51
- Ch.5 Nuclear Chemistry42
- Ch.6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds57
- Ch.7 Chemical Quantities and Reactions41
- Ch.8 Gases29
- Ch.9 Solutions51
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium65
- Ch.11 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons78
- Ch.12 Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers, Aldehydes, and Ketones83
- Ch.13 Carbohydrates54
- Ch.14 Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides90
- Ch.15 Lipids61
- Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes84
- Ch.17 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis83
- Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production67
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 15, Problem 10a
For each of the following fatty acids, give the shorthand notation for the number of carbon atoms and double bonds, and classify as saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated:
a. linoleic acid
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the shorthand notation for fatty acids. The shorthand notation is written as Cx:y, where 'x' represents the total number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid chain, and 'y' represents the number of double bonds in the chain.
Step 2: Recall the structure of linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is a fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and 2 double bonds. Its chemical formula is C18H32O2.
Step 3: Write the shorthand notation for linoleic acid. Based on its structure, the shorthand notation is C18:2, where '18' is the number of carbon atoms and '2' is the number of double bonds.
Step 4: Classify the fatty acid. A fatty acid is classified as saturated if it has no double bonds, monounsaturated if it has one double bond, and polyunsaturated if it has two or more double bonds. Since linoleic acid has 2 double bonds, it is classified as a polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Step 5: Summarize the findings. Linoleic acid has the shorthand notation C18:2 and is classified as a polyunsaturated fatty acid.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Fatty Acid Structure
Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains. They can be classified based on the number of carbon atoms and the presence of double bonds. The shorthand notation typically includes the total number of carbon atoms followed by the number of double bonds, such as '18:2' for an 18-carbon fatty acid with 2 double bonds.
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Fatty Acids Example 1
Saturation
Saturation refers to the presence or absence of double bonds in the fatty acid chain. Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds, while monounsaturated fatty acids contain one double bond, and polyunsaturated fatty acids have two or more. This classification affects the physical properties and health implications of the fatty acids.
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0:57Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons Example 2
Linoleic Acid
Linoleic acid is a specific type of polyunsaturated fatty acid, commonly found in vegetable oils. It has 18 carbon atoms and 2 double bonds, denoted as '18:2'. As an essential fatty acid, it plays a crucial role in human health, particularly in cell membrane structure and function.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Stearic acid and linoleic acid each have 18 carbon atoms. Why does stearic acid melt at 69 °C but linoleic acid melts at –5 °C?
Textbook Question
For each of the following fatty acids, give the shorthand notation for the number of carbon atoms and double bonds, and classify as saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated:
a. lauric acid
Textbook Question
Compare the structures and functional groups of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin PGE1.
Textbook Question
How does the double bond influence the dispersion forces that can form between the hydrocarbon chains of fatty acids?
Textbook Question
How does the structure of a fatty acid with a cis double bond differ from the structure of a fatty acid with a trans double bond?