The substance glyceryl trilinoleate (linoleic acid: \(\left.\mathrm{C}_{17} \mathrm{H}_{31} \mathrm{COOH}\right)\) is best described as a (a) fat; (b) oil; (c) wax; (d) fatty acid; (e) phospholipid.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Glyceryl trilinoleate is best described as an oil (b).

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Molecular Composition

Glyceryl trilinoleate is a triglyceride, which means it consists of one molecule of glycerol and three fatty acids, in this case, three molecules of linoleic acid (C17H31COOH). This structure is typical for fats and oils, while waxes, fatty acids, and phospholipids have different structures.
02

Examine the Characteristics

Next, look at the specific characteristics of glyceryl trilinoleate. It is a liquid at room temperature, which hints towards it being an oil rather than a fat because fats are typically solid at room temperature. Additionally, it contains a high degree of unsaturated fatty acids, another characteristic associated with oils.
03

Compare with Definitions

Now compare these characteristics with the definitions of fats, oils, waxes, fatty acids, and phospholipids. Fats and oils are both triglycerides, but oils are liquid at room temperature, whereas fats are solid. Waxes have long-chain alcohols and fatty acids, and phospholipids contain a phosphate group, characteristics that glyceryl trilinoleate doesn't have. Additionally, glyceryl trilinoleate is not a fatty acid because it has a glycerol backbone attached to three fatty acids.

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