Nomenclature of Fatty Acids

Fatty Acids

• The systematic name for a C18 saturated fatty acid is octadecanoic acid.
• A C18 fatty acid with one double bond is named octadecenoic acid.

Fatty Acid Nomenclature

• The position of a double bond in fatty acids is represented by a number that indicates the carbon atom where the double bond is located.
• The notation 18:2 signifies a fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and 2 double bonds.

Carbon Atom Numbering

• In a fatty acid, the carbon atoms are numbered starting from the carboxyl carbon (C1) and incrementing towards the terminal methyl carbon.

Fatty Acid Structure

• The terminal methyl carbon in a fatty acid is called the omega (ω) carbon.
• Triglycerides esterified with three hydroxyl groups of glycerol are called triacylglycerols.

Mixed Triglycerides

• A triglyceride formed with three different types of fatty acids connected to glycerol is called a mixed triglyceride.

Natural Fats and Oils

• Natural fats are mainly composed of triglycerides.
• The physical property that differentiates fats from oils is their melting point, with fats being solid at room temperature and oils being liquid.
• The main difference between fats and oils is their solidity or liquidity at room temperature.

Lipid Color

• The yellow color of body fat or milk fat is caused by the presence of carotenoid pigments.