Fats and oils are esters of fatty organic acids combined with a trihydric alkanol commonly referred to as
Answer Details
Fats and oils are types of lipids that belong to the category of esters of fatty acids. These are organic compounds formed when fatty acid molecules react with an alcohol. In the case of fats and oils, the alcohol involved is a trihydric alkanol, meaning it has three hydroxyl (-OH) groups.
The trihydric alkanol commonly found in fats and oils is glycerol. Glycerol, also known as glycerine, has the chemical formula C3H8O3 and has three carbon atoms, each of which is attached to a hydroxyl group, making it a perfect candidate to form esters with three fatty acid molecules.
When these fatty acids react with the hydroxyl groups of glycerol, they form compounds called triglycerides. These triglycerides are the primary constituents of both fats and oils. Therefore, the correct answer is that fats and oils are esters of fatty organic acids combined with glycerol as the trihydric alkanol.