Question

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid and the major fatty acid in olive oil (hence its name). Of all the oils, olive oil has the highest percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids, which may confer health benefits. (Incidentally, oleic acid is also released by dead insects and acts as a death recognition signal.)

The molecular formula for oleic acid is C₁₈H₃₄O₂.
Which of the following terms correctly describe oleic acid? Check all that apply.
a. Isotope
b. Element
c. Compound
d. Matter

Answer 1

Oleic acid is a compound, matter, and not an isotope or element.

Step-by-step explanation:

Oleic acid is a compound because it is made up of two or more different types of atoms (carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen). It is not an isotope because it does not represent a variation of an element with a different number of neutrons. It is also not an element because it is composed of multiple atoms bonded together. Oleic acid is definitely matter because it has mass and occupies space.