Question

what are the reactants and product in the esterification reaction shown below?
select the correct answer below:
glycerol, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and lauric acid are reactants, and a triglyceride is the product.
palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid are reactants, and a triglyceride is the product.
glycerol, palmitic acid, myristic acid, and linoleic acid are the reactants, and a triglyceride is the product.

Explanation:

• First, identify the reactants:
• The left - hand side of the reaction has glycerol (with three - OH groups) and three fatty acids.
• The fatty acid with \(C_{15}H_{31}\) is palmitic acid (\(C_{16}H_{32}O_2\), when considering the - COOH group, \(C_{15}H_{31}-COOH\)).
• The fatty acid with \(C_{17}H_{33}\) is oleic acid (\(C_{18}H_{34}O_2\), \(C_{17}H_{33}-COOH\)).
• The fatty acid with \(C_{17}H_{31}\) is linoleic acid (\(C_{18}H_{32}O_2\), \(C_{17}H_{31}-COOH\)).
• Then, note that in an esterification reaction between glycerol and fatty acids, a triglyceride (an ester) is formed as the product.

Answer:

Palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid are reactants, and a triglyceride is the product.