Final answer:
The end of a fatty acid that contains the carboxylic acid group is called the alpha (α) end. The omega (ω) end refers to the methyl end of the fatty acid chain, important in the classification of omega-3 fatty acids and in the oxidation processes named ω-oxidation and β-oxidation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The end of a fatty acid that contains the carboxylic acid group is called the alpha (α) end. This is because the carbon atom in the carboxyl group is referred to as the alpha carbon, and it designates the starting point for numbering carbon atoms in the fatty acid chain. On the other hand, the methyl end (CH3) of the fatty acid is referred to as the omega (ω) end. This nomenclature is important when discussing omega fatty acids, such as omega-3 fatty acids, where the “omega” number indicates the position of the first double bond relative to the omega end. When it comes to the oxidation of fatty acids, ω-oxidation refers to the oxidation process that occurs at the omega carbon, whereas β-oxidation refers to the process that occurs at the beta carbon.