Chapter 5.4, Problem 6E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: Whether trimyristin is responsible for the nutmeg odor or not needs to be explained.

Concept Introduction:

Lipids are biomolecules which involve in different biochemical reactions. They are special types of organic molecules which can only identify with the help of their physical properties, not by the presence of any certain functional group. Triacylglycerols are the most abundant lipids, which are triesters of glycerol, therefore in the formation of one molecule of triacylglycerol, three molecules of fatty acids react with one molecule of glycerol as given below;

  ${\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{(OH)CH(OH)CH}}_{\text{2}}\text{(OH) + 3 R- COOH}\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{(OCOR)CH(OCOR)CH}}_{\text{2}}{\text{(OCOR) + 3 H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$