Answer:
Saponification is the formation of a sodium carboxylate (soap) by the reaction of sodium hydroxide with a triglyceride (a type of fat or oil). Therefore, the correct answer is (a) triglyceride.
Concepts:
- Triglyceride is a ester obtained from glycerol by the esterification of three hydroxyl groups with fatty acids, naturally occurring in animal and vegetable tissues: an important energy source forming much of the fat stored in the body.
- Methyl esters are a family of plant or animal plant based materials that are used to produce other productions such as industrial solvents, cleaners, lubricants, and fuels.
- Wax is a solid, yellowish, nonglyceride substance allied to fats and oils, secreted by bees, plastic when warm and melting at 145°F, variously employed in making candles, models, casts, ointments, etc., and used by bees in constructing their honeycomb.
- Steroid is any of a large group of fat-soluble organic compounds, as the sterols, bile acids, and sex hormones, most of which have specific physiological action.
During saponification, the ester bonds between the fatty acids and glycerol in the triglyceride molecule are hydrolyzed (broken down by water) in the presence of a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide. This results in the formation of sodium salts of the fatty acids (soap) and glycerol. The soap molecules have a polar, hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a nonpolar, hydrophobic (water-fearing) tail, which allows them to interact with both water and oil, making them effective at removing dirt and grease from surfaces.