Oils and fats are esters formed from glycerol and fatty acids.
What is the reaction that forms oils and fats?
Oils and fats are formed through an esterification (condensation) reaction between glycerol and fatty acids.
What is the general equation for the formation of a triglyceride?
Glycerol + 3 Fatty Acids ⇌ Triglyceride + 3H₂O
What is a triglyceride?
A triglyceride is an ester formed from one glycerol molecule and three fatty acid molecules.
What is the chemical name of glycerol?
Propan-1,2,3-triol.
What functional group is present in fatty acids?
Carboxyl (-COOH) group.
What are the two main types of fatty acids?
Saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids.
What is the main difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?
Saturated fats contain only single bonds between carbon atoms, while unsaturated fats contain one or more double bonds.
What is the physical state of oils at room temperature?
Oils are liquid at room temperature.
What is the physical state of fats at room temperature?
Fats are solid or semi-solid at room temperature.
What is an example of a plant-based oil?
Olive oil.
What is an example of an animal-based fat?
Butter.
What is the process of converting oils into solid fats?
Hydrogenation.
What catalyst is commonly used in the hydrogenation of oils?
Nickel catalyst.
Why is hydrogenation used in food industries?
Hydrogenation is used to convert liquid vegetable oils into solid fats, such as margarine, for longer shelf life and improved texture.
What is the process of breaking down fats into glycerol and fatty acids?
Hydrolysis.
What type of reaction is hydrolysis?
Hydrolysis is a reaction that requires water to break down triglycerides into glycerol and fatty acids.
What are trans fats, and how are they formed?
Trans fats are unsaturated fats with trans-configured double bonds, formed during partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
Why are trans fats harmful to health?
Trans fats increase LDL (bad) cholesterol while decreasing HDL (good) cholesterol, raising the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Which vitamins require fats for transportation in the body?
Vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Explanation Questions
Why do unsaturated fats tend to be liquid at room temperature while saturated fats are solid?
Unsaturated fats contain double bonds that create kinks in the hydrocarbon chain, preventing tight packing of molecules, making them liquid. Saturated fats lack double bonds, allowing molecules to pack closely, making them solid.
Why does hydrogenation make oils more solid?
Hydrogenation adds hydrogen to unsaturated fats, converting double bonds to single bonds, straightening the fatty acid chains and allowing them to pack more tightly, resulting in a more solid structure.
Why are fats and oils essential for human health?
Fats and oils provide energy, help store energy, insulate the body, protect organs, and transport fat-soluble vitamins.
Why can excessive consumption of saturated fats lead to health problems?
Saturated fats raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
Why are trans fats considered worse for health than saturated fats?
Trans fats increase LDL cholesterol while also lowering HDL (good) cholesterol, making them even more harmful for heart health compared to saturated fats.
Why does the body store excess energy as fat rather than carbohydrates?
Fats are more energy-dense than carbohydrates, providing more energy per gram (9 kcal/g for fats vs. 4 kcal/g for carbohydrates), making them a more efficient form of long-term energy storage.
Why do polyunsaturated fats tend to spoil faster than saturated fats?
Polyunsaturated fats have multiple double bonds that are more prone to oxidation, leading to rancidity.
Why do oils generally come from plants while fats come from animals?
Plant-based lipids tend to contain more unsaturated fatty acids, making them liquid at room temperature, while animal-based lipids have more saturated fatty acids, making them solid.
Why are unsaturated fats considered healthier than saturated fats?
Unsaturated fats help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase HDL (good) cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease, whereas saturated fats tend to raise LDL cholesterol levels.
Why is margarine made from vegetable oils but has a solid texture?
Margarine is made by hydrogenating vegetable oils, which adds hydrogen to the unsaturated fatty acids, converting some double bonds into single bonds, making the fat more solid at room temperature.