Question

An example for a saturated fatty acid, present in nature is

• A. Oleic acid
• B. Linoleic acid
• C. Linolenic acid
• D. Palmitic acid

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Palmitic acid

Answer 2

Oleic acid - $C_{17}H_{33}COOH$, linoleic acid- $C_{17}H_{31}COOH$, linolenic acid - $C_{17}H_{29}COOH$, palmitic acid - $C_{15}H_{31}COOH$.

Saturated monocarboxylic acids form a homologous series which has a general formula $C_{n}H_{2n + 1}COOH$ or $C_{n}H_{2n}O_{2}$. Only palmitic acid follows this.