Dictionary > Palmitic acid

Palmitic acid

Definition
noun, plural: palmitic acids
A 16-carbon fatty acid, with the formula: CH3 (CH2)14 COOH
Supplement
A fatty acid is a long chain of hydrocarbon. If there are no unsaturated linkages but only single bonds between carbon atoms them the fatty acid is a saturated type. This is in contrast to an unsaturated fatty acid that contains at least one double carbon-carbon bond.
The palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid. It has sixteen carbon molecules in a chain connected by single bonds. It is the most common form of saturated fatty acid in most living things.
The palmitic acid occurs naturally in vegetable oils (e.g. palm oil and olive oil), fats, and waxes. One of its industrial uses is for making soaps through saponification. The esters and salts of palmitic acid are referred to as palmitate.
One of the main sources of palmitic acid is carbohydrates that are in excess in the body. It may serve as a precursor to longer fatty acids. The palmitoyl residue is one of the common acyl residues of membrane phospholipids. It is also found as a thioester attached to cystein residues on some membrane proteins. The proteins so modified are often transmembrane proteins and the modified residue is on the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane.
IUPAC name:

  • dodecanoic acid

Chemical formula:
CH3 (CH2)14 COOH
See also:


You will also like...

Still freshwater and plants
Still Freshwater & Plants

Plants in lentic habitats have features not found in terrestrial plants. They acquired these features as they adapt to t..

Crossing Over and Genetic Diversity
Inheritance and Probability

Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, is most famous in this field for his study of the phenotype of pea plants, including ..

Protein (illustration)
Protein Variety

The sequence of amino acids determines the type of protein. Protein is synthesized according to the sequence of nucleoti..

"Cronopio dentiacutus", a prehistoric mammal (an illustration)
Mammalian Ancestors

Mammals are a diverse group of organisms, where most of them develop their offspring within the uterus of the mother. Ov..

human brain structure
The Conscious & Unconscious Nervous System

This tutorial elaborates on how the nervous system works, particularly at the tissue level of the brain. There are three..

Thermographic image of face and neck
Regulation of Organic Metabolism, Growth and Energy Balance

The human body is capable of regulating growth and energy balance through various feedback mechanisms. Get to know the e..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics