Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

23. Lipids

Triacylglycerol Reactions: Hydrolysis

GOB Chemistry

23. Lipids

Triacylglycerol Reactions: Hydrolysis

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5:29 minutes

Problem 11

Textbook Question

Write the complete equation for the hydrolysis of a triacylglycerol in which the fatty acids are two molecules of stearic acid and one of oleic acid.

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the structure of a triacylglycerol: A triacylglycerol consists of a glycerol backbone esterified to three fatty acid molecules. In this case, the fatty acids are two molecules of stearic acid (C18H36O2, a saturated fatty acid) and one molecule of oleic acid (C18H34O2, a monounsaturated fatty acid).

Understand the hydrolysis reaction: Hydrolysis of a triacylglycerol involves breaking the ester bonds between the glycerol backbone and the fatty acids using water (H2O) in the presence of an enzyme (lipase) or a strong base/acid catalyst.

Write the reactants: The reactants are the triacylglycerol (glycerol esterified with two stearic acid molecules and one oleic acid molecule) and three molecules of water (H2O).

Write the products: The hydrolysis reaction produces one molecule of glycerol (C3H8O3) and three free fatty acids: two molecules of stearic acid (C18H36O2) and one molecule of oleic acid (C18H34O2).

Combine the information into a complete balanced chemical equation: The equation is:

Triacylglycerol + 3 H_{2} O \to Glycerol + 2 Stearic Acid + 1 Oleic Acid

. This represents the hydrolysis of the triacylglycerol into its components.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Triacylglycerol Structure

Triacylglycerols, also known as triglycerides, are esters formed from glycerol and three fatty acid molecules. In this case, the structure consists of a glycerol backbone bonded to two stearic acid (C18:0) molecules and one oleic acid (C18:1) molecule. Understanding the structure is essential for writing the hydrolysis equation.

Hydrolysis Reaction

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction that involves the breakdown of a compound by water. In the context of triacylglycerols, hydrolysis results in the release of glycerol and free fatty acids. This reaction is catalyzed by enzymes such as lipases and is crucial for understanding how fats are metabolized in the body.

Fatty Acid Composition

Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains, and their properties depend on their saturation and length. Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid, while oleic acid is unsaturated. Recognizing the types of fatty acids involved in the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols is important for accurately representing the products of the reaction.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Identify each of the following processes as hydrogenation, hydrolysis, or saponification and give the products:

b. the reaction of glyceryl tristearate with water in the presence of lipase enzyme

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Textbook Question

Use line-angle formulas to write the balanced chemical equation for the acid hydrolysis of glyceryl trimyristate (trimyristin).

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Multiple Choice

Provide the common name of the fatty acids produced from the enzymatic hydrolysis of the following triacylglycerol.

The salt of a fatty acid has its ending of “ic acid” changed to “ate”. Based on this information provide the name of the salt created from the following saponification reaction.

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Textbook Question

Is the reaction shown here esterification, hydrogenation, hydrolysis, saponification, or substitution?

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Textbook Question

Draw the structures of all products you would obtain by saponification of the following lipid with aqueous KOH. What are the names of the products?

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Textbook Question

Cardiolipin, a compound found in heart muscle, has the following structure. What products are formed if all ester bonds in the molecule are saponified by treatment with aqueous NaOH?

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Textbook Question

Which of the following are saponifiable lipids? (Recall that ester bonds are broken by base hydrolysis.)

a. Progesterone

b. Glyceryl trioleate

c. A sphingomyelin

d. Prostaglandin E₁

e. A cerebroside

f. A lecithin

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