Which of the following statement is TRUE of the complete hydrolysis of a glyceride by sodium hydroxide?
Answer Details
The statement that is TRUE of the complete hydrolysis of a glyceride by sodium hydroxide is:
- 3 moles of NaOH are required for each mole of glyceride.
During the hydrolysis of a glyceride (a triglyceride), the ester bonds between the fatty acid chains and glycerol are broken by the action of a strong base like sodium hydroxide. This results in the formation of glycerol and the corresponding salts of fatty acids, which are commonly known as "soaps." The reaction can be represented by the following equation:
Triglyceride + 3 NaOH → 3 soap + glycerol
As per the equation, 3 moles of NaOH are required to hydrolyze one mole of glyceride, and 3 moles of soap and one mole of glycerol are produced. The use of concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is not essential for the completion of the reaction, but it can be used as a catalyst to speed up the reaction.