Chapter 19.5, Problem 19.10P

Interpretation Introduction

(a)

Interpretation:

Thecomposition of the soap formed by basic hydrolysis of given triacylglycerol needs to be determined.

  

Concept Introduction:

Lipids are biomolecules which are involved in different biochemical reactions.They are special types of organic molecules which can only identify with the help of their physical properties, not by the presence of any certain functional group.

Triacylglycerol are most abundant lipids which are mainly found in animal fat and vegetable oils. They are triesters of glycerol, therefore in the formation of one molecule of triacylglycerol, three molecules of fatty acids react with one molecule of glycerol as given below;

  ${\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{(OH)CH(OH)CH}}_{\text{2}}\text{(OH) + 3 R- COOH}\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{(OCOR)CH(OCOR)CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{(OCOR) + 3 H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

Saponification reaction of triacylglycerol is an alkaline hydrolysis of these triesters that forms sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids (soap) and glycerol as the product. The hydrolysis of triacylglycerol can be done in the presence of aqueous solution of base like $\text{NaOH or KOH}$.

Interpretation Introduction

(b)

Interpretation:

The composition of the soap formed by basic hydrolysis of given triacylglycerol needs to be determined.

  

Concept Introduction:

Lipids are biomolecules which are involved in different biochemical reactions.They are special types of organic molecules which can only identify with the help of their physical properties, not by the presence of any certain functional group.

Triacylglycerol are most abundant lipids which are mainly found in animal fat and vegetable oils. They are triesters of glycerol, therefore in the formation of one molecule of triacylglycerol, three molecules of fatty acids react with one molecule of glycerol as given below;

  ${\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{(OH)CH(OH)CH}}_{\text{2}}\text{(OH) + 3 R- COOH}\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{(OCOR)CH(OCOR)CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{(OCOR) + 3 H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

Saponification reaction of triacylglycerol is an alkaline hydrolysis of these triesters that forms sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids (soap) and glycerol as the product. The hydrolysis of triacylglycerol can be done in the presence of aqueous solution of base like $\text{NaOH or KOH}$.