Question

Draw the structure of an optically active fat that, when hydrolyzed under acidic conditions, gives the same products as the fat in Problem 3.

Short answer

Structure of optically active fat

Step-by-step solution

Optically active compound

This chemical compound is capable of rotating the plane of polarized light. The chiral compounds show optical inactivity. Lactic acid is an example of the same.

Hydrolysis of fat

The hydrolysis reaction of fat in the presence of acid leads to the formation of soaps. If the hydrolysis takes place in triglyceride, then it forms fatty acids and glycerol.

Structure of optically active fat

The optically active fat contains triglycerides with lauric acid at the top and stearic acid at the bottom and in the middle. The chiral carbon is present in the middle marked as * in the structure shown below.

Structure of optically active fat