Asked by Shagufta Younas on Sep 23, 2024
Verified
Which of the following fatty acids has the lowest melting point?
A) lauric acid
B) myristic acid
C) palmitic acid
D) stearic acid
E) linoleic acid
Melting Point
The temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid at atmospheric pressure.
Linoleic Acid
An essential polyunsaturated fatty acid found in many vegetable oils, important for the structure and function of cellular membranes.
- Comprehend the physical properties of lipids and their relation to structure, such as melting points.
Verified Answer
AB
Arman Balian2 days ago
Final Answer :
E
Explanation :
Linoleic acid has the lowest melting point among the options given. This is because it is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, which means it has more than one double bond in its carbon chain. These double bonds introduce kinks in the fatty acid chain, preventing the molecules from packing closely together. This results in a lower melting point compared to saturated fatty acids (like lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids) which have straight chains that pack closely together, leading to higher melting points.
Learning Objectives
- Comprehend the physical properties of lipids and their relation to structure, such as melting points.
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