Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 26: Problem 6

Triglycerides rich in saturated fatty acids are generally solids or semisolids at room temperature and are called fats.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Triglycerides rich in saturated fatty acids are generally solid or semisolid at room temperature and referred to as fats because of their straight and compact molecular structure, which allows them to pack closely together and results in strong Van der Waals forces between the molecules. These strong intermolecular forces lead to a higher melting point, causing them to be solid or semisolid at room temperature.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the structure of a triglyceride

A triglyceride is a type of lipid (fat) molecule that consists of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acid chains. The fatty acid chains can be either saturated or unsaturated, depending on the presence or absence of double bonds between the carbon atoms in the chain. Saturated fatty acids have only single bonds between the carbon atoms, while unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds. In this exercise, we will focus on triglycerides rich in saturated fatty acids.
02

Saturated fatty acids structure

As mentioned earlier, saturated fatty acids have only single bonds between the carbon atoms in their chains. This results in a straight and tightly packed molecular structure, with all the carbon atoms surrounded by a maximum number of hydrogen atoms. Because of this compact structure, saturated fatty acids can easily stack together, which leads to dense arrangement and tendencies to solidify.
03

Intermolecular forces

The fatty acid chains in a triglyceride rich in saturated fatty acids tend to be attracted to each other through Van der Waals forces. These are weak intermolecular forces caused by the transient dipoles that form as the electrons move around the molecules. The linear structure of the saturated fatty acids allows them to pack closely together, thus maximizing the Van der Waals forces between them. This close-packed arrangement results in a higher melting point for saturated fats, causing them to be solid or semisolid at room temperature.
04

Unsaturated fatty acids and comparison

In contrast to saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds between the carbon atoms. This creates kinks in the molecular structure, making it more difficult for them to pack closely together. As a result, unsaturated fatty acids have weaker intermolecular forces and lower melting points than saturated fats, which is why they are generally liquid at room temperature and referred to as oils.
05

Conclusion

In summary, triglycerides rich in saturated fatty acids are solid or semisolid at room temperature and are called fats because they have a straight and compact molecular structure, which leads to strong Van der Waals forces between the molecules. These strong intermolecular forces result in a higher melting point for saturated fats, causing them to be solid or semisolid at room temperature.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Define the term hydrophobic.

Oral contraceptives contain a synthetic progestin, for example norethindrone, which prevents ovulation yet allows women to maintain an otherwise normal menstrual cycle.

The carbon skeleton of cholesterol and those of all biomolecules derived from it originate with the acetyl group (a two-carbon unit) of acetyl-CoA.

noncovalent forces directing the self-assembly of biomolecules in aqueous solution. The hydrophobic effect arises from tendencies of biomolecules (1) to arrange polar groups so that they interact with the aqueous environment by hydrogen bonding and (2) to arrange nonpolar groups so that they are shielded from the aqueous environment. Show how the hydrophobic effect is involved in directing the following. (a) The formation of micelles by soaps and detergents (b) The formation of lipid bilayers by phospholipids

Triglycerides (triacylglycerols), the most abundant lipids, are triesters of glycerol and fatty acids.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free