NTA Abhyas NEET2020ChemistryBiomoleculesPractice
Palmitic and arachidonic acid have how many carbons excluding the carboxyl carbon?
Options
- A16,18
- B16, 20
- C15, 19
- D15,20
Correct answer
C. 15, 19
Step-by-step solution
Lipids are generally water-insoluble. They could be simple fatty acids. A fatty acid has a carboxyl group attached to an R group. The R group could be a methyl (–CH 3 ), or ethyl (–C 2 H 5 ) or a higher number of –CH 2 groups (1 carbon to 19 carbons). For example, palmitic acid has 16 carbons including carboxyl carbon. Arachidonic acid has 20 carbon atoms including the carboxyl carbon.