Question

During saponification: (A) triacylglycerols undergo a condensation reaction. (B) triacylglycerols undergo ester hydrolysis. (C) fatty acid salts are produced using a strong acid. (D) fatty acid salts are bound to albumin.

Short answer

B) triacylglycerols undergo ester hydrolysis.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Saponification

Saponification is the process of converting fats or oils (traicylglycerols) into soap and alcohol by treating them with an alkali, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH).

Identify the Reaction Type

Determine the type of chemical reaction occuring in saponification. Traicylglycerols are broken down in the presence of a strong base.

Recognize Ester Hydrolysis

During saponification, esters in traicylglycerols are hydrolyzed. This means that the ester bonds are broken, producing glycerol and fatty acid salts (soap). This confirms that traicylglycerols undergo ester hydrolysis.

Evaluate Each Option

A) Incorrect, because condensation reactions form water; saponification involves breaking bonds. B) Correct, as explained in the previous step. C) Incorrect, strong acids are not used for producing fatty acid salts in saponification. D) Incorrect, fatty acid salts are not bound to albumin during saponification.

Key concepts

Ester Hydrolysis

Ester hydrolysis is a significant chemical reaction where esters are broken down by water. In the context of saponification, ester hydrolysis happens when a strong base, like sodium hydroxide (NaOH), breaks the ester bonds in triacylglycerols. This process releases glycerol and fatty acid salts.

• Esters react with water in the presence of a strong base.
• The ester bonds in triacylglycerols break, leading to the formation of soap and glycerol.
• As a result, two key products are formed: glycerol and soap (fatty acid salts).

This reaction is fundamental to saponification, highlighting why ester hydrolysis is the correct answer in understanding how triacylglycerols are processed.

Triacylglycerols

Triacylglycerols are the main constituents of body fat in humans and other animals, as well as vegetable fat. They are a type of lipid made up of one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acids.

• They store energy and serve as insulation and protection.
• They are also involved in metabolic processes in the body.

During saponification, these triacylglycerols undergo ester hydrolysis to produce soap (fatty acid salts) and glycerol. Thus, understanding the molecular structure and function of triacylglycerols is important to grasp saponification.

Fatty Acid Salts

Fatty acid salts, commonly known as soap, are the products of the saponification process. These salts are formed when the fatty acids from triacylglycerols react with a strong base.

• Soap molecules have hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads and hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails.
• This structure allows them to emulsify fats and oils, making them soluble in water and able to cleanse and remove grime.

The creation of fatty acid salts is a key outcome of saponification and their unique properties make them extremely useful in cleaning and personal care products.

Strong Base Reaction

A strong base reaction is crucial in the saponification process. Common strong bases used include sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). These bases provide the necessary conditions for breaking ester bonds in triacylglycerols.

• Strong bases catalyze the hydrolysis of esters, leading to the formation of glycerol and fatty acid salts.
• They also provide the hydroxide ions needed for the reaction to proceed efficiently.

Recognizing the role of strong bases is essential for understanding how triacylglycerols are converted into useful products during saponification.