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Chapter 23: Problem 8

Write properly balanced chemical equations for the oxidation to \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) and water of (a) myristic acid, (b) stearic acid, (c) \(\alpha\) -linolenic acid, and (d) arachidonic acid.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The balanced chemical equations for the oxidation to \(CO_{2}\) and water are: \n(a) Myristic Acid: \(C_{14}H_{28}O_{2} + 21O_{2} \rightarrow 14CO_{2} + 14H_{2}O\),\n(b) Stearic Acid: \(C_{18}H_{36}O_{2} + 27O_{2} \rightarrow 18CO_{2} + 18H_{2}O\),\n(c) Alpha-Linolenic Acid: \(C_{18}H_{30}O_{2} + 25.5O_{2} \rightarrow 18CO_{2} + 15H_{2}O\),\n(d) Arachidonic Acid: \(C_{20}H_{32}O_{2} + 28O_{2} \rightarrow 20CO_{2} + 16H_{2}O\).

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Structural Formulas

Before proceeding with the exercise, one should be familiar with the structural formulas of the acids mentioned in the exercise.\n(a) Myristic acid has the formula C14H28O2.\n(b) Stearic acid has the formula C18H36O2.\n(c) Alpha-linolenic acid has the formula C18H30O2.\n(d) Arachidonic acid has the formula C20H32O2.
02

Write Generalized Oxidation Reaction

Oxidation of a fatty acid to carbon dioxide and water can be generalized as \[ \mathrm{C}_{n}\mathrm{H}_{2n+1}\mathrm{COOH} + (\frac {3n-1}{2})O_{2} \rightarrow nCO_{2} + (n+1)H_{2}O \] Here, it is important to keep in mind that oxidation involves the addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen in a chemical reaction.
03

Write and Balance the Chemical Equations

Applying the generalized oxidation reaction to each of the acids:\n(a) Myristic Acid: \[ \mathrm{C}_{14}\mathrm{H}_{28}\mathrm{O}_{2} + 21\mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow 14CO_{2} + 14H_{2}O \]\n(b) Stearic Acid: \[ \mathrm{C}_{18}\mathrm{H}_{36}\mathrm{O}_{2} + 27\mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow 18CO_{2} + 18H_{2}O \]\n(c) Alpha-Linolenic Acid: \[ \mathrm{C}_{18}\mathrm{H}_{30}\mathrm{O}_{2} + 25.5\mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow 18CO_{2} + 15H_{2}O \]\n(d) Arachidonic Acid: \[ \mathrm{C}_{20}\mathrm{H}_{32}\mathrm{O}_{2} + 28\mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow 20CO_{2} + 16H_{2}O \] Make sure each chemical equation is balanced, meaning there are the same number of atoms for each compound on both sides of the equation.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Even though acetate units, such as those obtained from fatty acid oxidation, cannot be used for net synthesis of carbohydrate in animals, labeled carbon from \(^{14}\) C-labeled acetate can be found in newly synthesized glucose (for example, in liver glycogen) in animal tracer studies. Explain how this can be. Which carbons of glucose would you expect to be the first to be labeled by \(^{14}\) C-labeled acctate?

What would be the consequences of a deficiency in vitamin \(\mathrm{B}_{12}\) for fatty acid oxiclation? What metabolic intermediates might accumulate?

What would be the consequences of a carnitine deficiency for fatty acid oxidation?
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