A fatty acid has a carboxyl group attached to an R group. The number of carbon atoms in R group of a fatty acid may be

Options

A. 1 carbon to 19 carbons
B. 2 carbons to 19 carbons
C. 1 carbons to 20 carbons
D. 2 carbond to 20 carbons

Explanation

To determine the number of carbon atoms in the R group of a fatty acid, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Fatty Acids**:
- Fatty acids are carboxylic acids that have a long aliphatic chain. The structure of a fatty acid consists of a carboxyl group (-COOH) attached to a hydrocarbon chain (the R group).

2. **Identifying the R Group**:
- The R group in fatty acids is the hydrocarbon chain that can vary in length. This chain can be composed of different numbers of carbon atoms.

3. **Range of Carbon Atoms**:
- The number of carbon atoms in the R group can vary. According to the information provided:
- The R group can have as few as 1 carbon atom (which would be acetic acid).
- The R group can have up to 19 carbon atoms, which is typical for many fatty acids.

4. **Examples of Fatty Acids**:
- For clarity, here are some examples:
- **1 Carbon**: Acetic acid (C2H4O2)
- **2 Carbons**: Propanoic acid (C3H6O2)
- **3 Carbons**: Butanoic acid (C4H8O2)
- **Up to 19 Carbons**: Palmitic acid (C16H32O2) and Stearic acid (C18H36O2) are common examples.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the number of carbon atoms in the R group of a fatty acid can range from 1 to 19, depending on the specific fatty acid.

### Final Answer:
The number of carbon atoms in the R group of a fatty acid may range from 1 to 19.

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