Final answer:
In a fat molecule, each of the three hydroxyl groups of the glycerol molecule is attached to a fatty acid through an ester bond, forming a triglyceride. If plenty of glycerol is available, 15 fatty acid molecules can create 5 fat molecules, since each fat molecule requires 3 fatty acids.
Step-by-step explanation:
A fat molecule, such as a triglyceride, consists of glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol has three carbon atoms and three hydroxyl (-OH) groups. Fatty acids have a long chain of hydrocarbons attached to an acidic carboxyl group. In a fat molecule, each of the three hydroxyl groups of the glycerol molecule is attached to a fatty acid through an ester bond, forming a triglyceride.
To determine how many fat molecules can be made from 15 fatty acid molecules, we need to consider that each glycerol molecule can carry three fatty acids. Therefore, if plenty of glycerol is available, 15 fatty acid molecules can create 5 fat molecules, since each fat molecule requires 3 fatty acids.