Question

Circle the eight isoprene units in β-carotene.

Short answer

β carotenoids are natural carotenoids classified as tetraterpenes.β-carotene has eight isoprene structures, eleven conjugated double bonds, and forty carbons backbone. It is composed of two retinyl groups and is irregular terpenewith4-4 linkage.

Step-by-step solution

Structure

β carotenoids are natural carotenoids classified as tetraterpenes.β-carotene has eight isoprene structures, eleven conjugated double bonds, and forty carbons backbone. It is composed of two retinyl groups and is irregular terpenewith4-4 linkage.

Step 2:Isoprene units

Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) is a branched chain, five carbon units unsaturated hydrocarbon, having two double bonds (C-C). Itsformula is CH2=C(CH3)−CH=CH2.

Isoprene unit =

Eight isoprene units