Question

Indicate which statements are correct for the transesterification reaction you will be performing. (All that apply)

Each fat molecule leads to three fatty acid methyl esters.

The methyl ester formation is run in acidic conditions.

Methanol reacts with sodium hydroxide to form sodium methoxide.

The methanol used as the solvent is the source of the methyl groups of the synthesized methyl esters of the fatty acids.

Answer 1

The correct statements are,

Each fat molecules leads to three fatty acid methyl esters.

The methanol used as the solvent is the source of methyl groups of the synthesized methyl esters of fatty

acids.

Methanol reacts with sodium hydroxide to form sodium methoxide.

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Note,

Actually,sodium hydroxide dissolves in methanol and it being a strong base yields OH^- . Further, some of

it is converted to sodium methoxide.

CH3OH (l) + NaOH (aq) -----------> CH3ONa(aq) + H2O (l)