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19.2.2: Triglycerides

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    Triglycerides are esters of fatty acids and a trifunctional alcohol - glycerol (IUPAC name is 1,2,3-propantriol). The properties of fats and oils follow the same general principles as already described for the fatty acids. The important properties to be considered are: melting points and degree of unsaturation from component fatty acids.

    Introduction

    Since glycerol has three alcohol functional groups, three fatty acids must react to make three ester functional groups. The three fatty acids may or may not be identical. In fact, three different fatty acids may be present. The synthesis of a triglyceride is another application of the ester synthesis reaction. To write the structure of the triglyceride you must know the structure of glycerol and be given or look up the structure of the fatty acid in the table.

    Table \(\PageIndex{1}\):The common fats and oils including fatty acid content are listed below.
    Fat or Oil Saturated Unsaturated
      Palmitic Stearic Oleic Linoleic Other
    Animal Origin
    Butter 29 9 27 4 31
    Lard 30 18 41 6 5
    Beef 32 25 38 3 2
    Vegetable Origin
    Corn oil 10 4 34 48 4
    Soybean 7 3 25 56 9
    Peanut 7 5 60 21 7
    Olive 6 4 83 7 -

    552lauryltrigly.gif

    Synthesis of a Triglyceride

    Since glycerol, (IUPAC name is 1,2,3-propantriol), has three alcohol functional groups, three fatty acids must react to make three ester functional groups. The three fatty acids may or may not be identical. In fact, three different fatty acids may be present. nThe synthesis of a triglyceride is another application of the ester synthesis reaction. To write the structure of the triglyceride you must know the structure of glycerol and be given or look up the structure of the fatty acid in Table \(\PageIndex{1}\) - find lauric acid.

    Glycerol
    552glycerol.gif

    The simplified reaction reveals the process of breaking some bonds and forming the ester and the by product, water. Refer to the graphic on the left for the synthesis of trilauroylglycerol. First, the -OH (red) bond on the acid is broken and the -H (red) bond on the alcohol is also broken. Both join to make HOH, a water molecule. Secondly, the oxygen of the alcohol forms a bond (green) to the acid at the carbon with the double bond oxygen. This forms the ester functional group. This process is carried out three times to make three ester groups and three water molecules.

    Structure of a Triglyceride

    As you can see from the graphic on the left, the actual molecular model of the triglyceride does not look at all like the line drawing. The reason for this difference lies in the concepts of molecular geometry. Trilauroylglycerol. All of the above factors contribute to the apparent "T" shape of the molecule.

    552trilauryl.gif

    Problems

    Quiz: Which acid (short chain or fatty) would most likely be soluble in water?
    ... in hexane?

    1 Practice writing out a triglyceride of stearic acid. Again look up the formula of stearic acid and use the structure of glycerol.

    2. Write down your answers. Then check the answers from the drop down menu.

    What is the molecular geometry of all three carbons in glycerol (look at model above)?
    What is the molecular geometry of the carbon at the center of the ester group?
    What is the molecular geometry of the single bond oxygen?
    • Snell, Foster D. "Soap and glycerol." J. Chem. Educ. 1942, 19, 172.

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    19.2.2: Triglycerides is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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