Triglycerides
biochemistry...triglycerides?
im stuck with a biochemistry question. Explain the difference in solubility between triglycerides and the products of their hydrolysis.. thanks so much
Public Comments
- Trigycerides are fat molecules which are soluble in oily solvents, like benzene, alkanes, methyethyl ketone. Trigycerides are also in the class of molecules called carboxylic esters; this means they can be hydrolized in water with bases like sodium or potassium hydroxide (this process is called saponification). Remember that hydrolysis means the addition of water to a molecule. When trigycerides are saponified, the products are one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of sodium/potassium salts of "fatty" carboxylic acid. "Fatty" acid means that they are composed of long hydrocarbon chains. Glycerol is soluble in water, and the fatty acid salts are actually soap molecules which are soluble in water also, but can also dissolve in other solvents including oily ones.
