Question

During the synthesis of a triglyceride from glycerol and 3 fatty acids, which of the following will also occur? Hint: think about how many bonds are required to do this.

a 3 molecules of water will be consumed
b 2 molecules of water will beproduced
c 1 molecule of water will be produced
d 3 molecules of water will be produced
e 1 molecule of water will be produced

Answer 1

During the synthesis of a triglyceride, a dehydration synthesis reaction occurs, resulting in the production of 3 molecules of water as three fatty acids bond with a glycerol molecule.

Step-by-step explanation:

The synthesis of a triglyceride from glycerol and three fatty acids is a dehydration synthesis reaction. In this process, each of the three fatty acids bonds with the glycerol backbone by removing a water molecule. For every fatty acid attached, a water molecule is formed as a byproduct as the hydroxyl group (OH) from the carboxyl end of the fatty acid and a hydrogen atom (H) from the glycerol combine.

This means that three water molecules are produced during the creation of one triglyceride molecule. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is (d) 3 molecules of water will be produced.