Describe the characteristics of fatty acids and fatty acid esters.

Fatty acids are made up of lipid chains. In membrane of the cell, they can be found as glycolipids or phospholipids. They can be made up of dietary fats and oils.

Characteristics of fatty acids are-

1. Fatty acids have carboxylic functional group
2. They are chain of aliphatic carbons
3. They can be either saturated or unsaturated.
4. The aliphatic chains can be short, medium, long or very long

• The short chain has 5 or less than 5 carbon atoms
• The medium chain has 6 to 12 Carbon atoms
• The long chain has 13-21 carbon atoms and
• The very long chain has more then 22 carbon atoms.

 5. They react like other carboxylic acids and can undergo esterification process.