Textbook Question
Identify each of the following as a saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, omega-3, or omega-6 fatty acid:
a.
Ch.15 Lipids
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Chemistry in Our Lives11
- Ch.2 Chemistry and Measurements80
- Ch.3 Matter and Energy54
- Ch.4 Atoms and Elements51
- Ch.5 Nuclear Chemistry42
- Ch.6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds57
- Ch.7 Chemical Quantities and Reactions41
- Ch.8 Gases29
- Ch.9 Solutions51
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium65
- Ch.11 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons78
- Ch.12 Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers, Aldehydes, and Ketones83
- Ch.13 Carbohydrates54
- Ch.14 Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides90
- Ch.15 Lipids61
- Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes84
- Ch.17 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis83
- Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production67
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 15, Problem 79a
Identify each of the following as a fatty acid, soap, triacylglycerol, wax, glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, or steroid:
a. beeswax
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the question. The problem asks you to classify 'beeswax' into one of the given categories: fatty acid, soap, triacylglycerol, wax, glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, or steroid. Each category represents a specific type of lipid or related compound.
Step 2: Recall the definition of a wax. Waxes are esters formed from a long-chain fatty acid and a long-chain alcohol. They are hydrophobic and often serve as protective coatings in nature, such as on leaves, fruits, or animal products like beeswax.
Step 3: Identify the composition of beeswax. Beeswax is primarily composed of esters of fatty acids and long-chain alcohols, which matches the definition of a wax.
Step 4: Eliminate other options. Beeswax is not a fatty acid (a carboxylic acid with a long hydrocarbon chain), soap (a salt of a fatty acid), triacylglycerol (a glycerol molecule esterified with three fatty acids), glycerophospholipid (a lipid containing a phosphate group), sphingolipid (a lipid containing a sphingosine backbone), or steroid (a compound with a four-ring structure).
Step 5: Conclude that beeswax is classified as a wax based on its chemical structure and properties.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Waxes
Waxes are long-chain fatty acids esterified to long-chain alcohols. They are solid at room temperature and serve various functions, including waterproofing and protection in plants and animals. Beeswax, for example, is produced by honeybees and is used to build honeycombs, showcasing its structural and protective properties.
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Waxes Concept 1
Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains, which can be saturated or unsaturated. They are key components of lipids and play crucial roles in energy storage, cellular structure, and signaling. Understanding the structure and properties of fatty acids is essential for categorizing various lipid types.
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Lipids
Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic organic molecules, including fats, oils, waxes, and steroids. They are essential for various biological functions, such as energy storage, membrane structure, and signaling. Recognizing the different classes of lipids helps in identifying their roles and characteristics in biological systems.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
The total kilocalories and grams of fat for some typical meals at fast-food restaurants are listed here. Calculate the number of kilocalories and the percentage of total kilocalories from fat (1 gram of fat = 9 kcal). Round answers to the tens place.
a. a beef burrito, 470 kcal, 21 g of fat
Textbook Question
Identify each of the following as a fatty acid, soap, triacylglycerol, wax, glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, or steroid:
b. cholesterol
Textbook Question
Identify each of the following as a fatty acid, soap, triacylglycerol, wax, glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, or steroid:
d. glyceryl tripalmitate (tripalmitin)