Chapter 19, Problem 19.38P

Some marine plankton contain triacylglycerols formed from the poly unsaturated fatty acid, 3,6,9,12,15-docosapentaenoic acid.

$\underset{\text{3},6,\text{9},\text{12},\text{15-octadecapentaenoic acid}}{{\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}\text{CH}={\text{CHCH}}_{\text{2}}\text{CH}={\text{CHCH}}_{\text{2}}\text{CH}={\text{CHCH}}_{\text{2}}\text{CH}={\text{CHCH}}_{\text{2}}\text{CH}={\text{CHCH}}_{\text{2}}\text{COOH}}$

1. Draw a skeletal structure showing the cis arrangement at each double bond.
2. Label the hydrophobic and hydrophilic portions of the fatty acid.
3. How does the melting point of this fatty acid compare to the melting point of oleic acid?
4. Would you expect this fatty acid to be a solid or a liquid at room temperature?
5. What type of omega-n acid is this fatty acid?