Answer:
The general chemical formula of all fatty acids is CnH2n+1COOH, where n is the number of carbons in the chain. So, a fatty acid with 8 carbons in the chain would have the formula C8H17COOH. The general formula for fatty acids applies to both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, but the number of carbon atoms and degree of saturation can vary. This variation is what gives different fatty acids their unique properties.