(a) Name/predict the two major products from the saponification of glycerol trip

Question

(a) Name/predict the two major products from the saponification of glycerol tripalmitate, followed by acidification. (b) What are two bases commonly used for saponification? (c) Is glycerol tripalmitate an unsaturated or saturated compound? (d) What key peak(s) in an IR spectrum can allow you to distinguish a saturated triglyceride from an unsaturated one? *Bonus* In terms of molecular structure and intermolecular forces, why does a saturated triglyceride have a higher melting point than a comparable sized unsaturated one?

Explanation / Answer

(a) major products of saponification of glycerol tripalmitate are glycerol (HOCH2-CH(OH)-CH2OH) and three moles of palmitic acid (CH3(CH2)14COOH).

(b) Common bases used for saponification are NaOH and KOH.

(c) Glycerol tripalmitate is an saturated compound.

(d) IR speatrum for unsaturated triglyceride would show peaks for C=C stretch at around 1500-1620 cm-1 and sp2 =C-H stretch at 3000-3100 cm-1. these peaks would be absent in saturated triglycerides.

Saturated triglycerides fit better in a crystal and thus have more regular structure with better intermolecular forces making it a higher melting point compound as opposed to unsaturated triglycerides.

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