Soap of triglyceride of palmitic, myristic & oleic acid
1. Assume that the triglyceride you are starting with is composed of the following three fatty acids: myristic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid. Draw the structure of the starting triglyceride.
2. Using the triglyceride drawn in #3, show the products that result following saponification using NaOH.
3. Describe how soap works, include a drawing of a micelle in your description.
4. Describe the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats. How can you as a consumer tell one from the other?
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com March 6, 2023, 3:07 pm ad1c9bdddfhttps://brainmass.com/chemistry/biological-and-bioactive-organic-compounds/soap-triglyceride-palmitic-myristic-oleic-acid-124346
Solution Preview
Soap
1. Assume that the triglyceride you are starting with is composed of the following three fatty acids: myristic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid. Draw the structure of the starting triglyceride.
Triglyceride (more properly known as triacylglycerol or triacylglyceride) is glyceride in which the glycerol is esterified with three fatty acids. It is the main constituent of vegetable oil and animal fats.
2. Using the triglyceride drawn in #3, show the products that result following saponification using NaOH.
Soap is produced by the saponification (hydrolysis) of a triglyceride (fat or oil). In this process the triglyceride is reacted with a strong base such as sodium or potassium hydroxide to produce glycerol and fatty acid salts. The salt of the fatty acid is called a soap.
3. Describe how soap works, include a drawing of a micelle in your description.
Soap is an excellent cleanser because of its ability to ...
Solution Summary
This solution gives the basic theory on soaps, its production using a triglyceride made of three different fatty acids. It provides the theory of saponification and then the working of soaps. In the last, it provides differences between the saturated and unsaturated fats and how a consumer/ lay man can differentiate the two types of fats.