A triglyceride molecule is synthesized by the esterification of one molecule of glycerol ( C₃H₈O₃ ) with three molecules of palmitic acid ( C₁₆H₃₂O₂ ). What is the total number of oxygen atoms present in one molecule of the resulting triglyceride?

Step-by-step solution

One molecule of glycerol contains 3 oxygen atoms. Three molecules of palmitic acid contain 3 2 = 6 oxygen atoms. The total number of oxygen atoms before the reaction is 3 + 6 = 9 . During the formation of a triglyceride, three ester bonds are formed between the hydroxyl groups of glycerol and the carboxyl groups of the fatty acids. This dehydration synthesis releases three molecules of water ( H₂O ). Since each water molecule contains 1 oxygen atom, a total of 3 oxygen atoms are removed during the process. The fina