Question

Typical fat molecules have ____ fatty acid chain(s).

1) One
2) Two
3) Three
4) Four

Answer 1

A typical fat molecule has three fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol molecule forming triglycerides through esterification.

Step-by-step explanation:

Typical fat molecules, such as triglycerides, have three fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol backbone.

Glycerol is an organic compound consisting of three carbons, and each carbon contains a hydroxyl (OH) group. Fatty acids, which may be either saturated or unsaturated, have a long chain of hydrocarbons with an even number of carbons, generally ranging from 4 to 36 carbons in length. The fatty acids in a triglyceride are linked to the glycerol molecule through an ester bond via a dehydration synthesis reaction, releasing a molecule of water for each bond formed.