Question

Briefly explain why most naturally occurring fatty acids have an even number of carbons.

Answer 1

Fatty acids are long chain hydrocarbons andare separated into four categories :

Saturated

Monosaturated

Polysaturated

Trans fat

Around 20 types of fatty acids are found in foods. Basic difference in types of fatty acids are presents of carbon atoms with or without two hydrogen atoms bonded to them.

Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an unbranched chain of carbon atoms, with a carboxyl group (–COOH) at one end, and a methyl group (–CH3) at the other end. ... If the position is counted from the −COOH end, then the C-x notation is used, with x=1, 2, 3, etc.Because when body synthesize fatty acids, then 2 - Carbon acetyl Co-A molecules are assembled together. ... This resulting fatty acid definitely will have an even number number of carbon atoms in it. That's the reason that most fatty acids have even number of carbon atoms if they are produced from biological systems.N