Question

Which among the following is not a common saturated fatty acids encountered in nature?

• A. Butyric acid
• B. Palmitoleic
• C. Acetic and palmitic
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B Palmitoleic

Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with hydrocarbon chains of 4 to 36 carbons. In some fatty acids, this chain is fully saturated (meaning it cannot accept any more hydrogens) and unbranched; other fatty acids contain one or more double bonds (thus, they can be hydrogenated when the double bonds will get converted into single bonds).

Common examples of saturated fatty acids are butyric acid having four carbon atoms, lauric acid having twelve carbon atoms, myristic acid having fourteen carbon atoms, palmitic acid having sixteen carbon atoms, etc. Common unsaturated fatty acids are palmitoleic acid having sixteen carbon atoms and one double bond, oleic acid having eighteen carbon atoms and one double bond, linolenic acid having eighteen carbon atoms and two double bonds, etc.