A fat molecule has

Options

A. 3 glycerol and one fatty acid molecule
B. one glycerol and 3 fatty acid molecules
C. one glycerol and one fatty acid molecule
D. 3 glycerol and 3 fatty acid molecule

Answer

To determine the composition of a fat molecule, we need to understand the structure of fats, specifically triglycerides. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the solution:

### Step 1: Understand the Components of Fats
Fats, also known as triglycerides, are composed of two main types of molecules: glycerol and fatty acids.

### Step 2: Identify the Structure of Glycerol
Glycerol is a trihydric alcohol, which means it contains three hydroxyl (–OH) groups. Its chemical formula is C₃H₈O₃, and it can be represented structurally as:
- CH₂(OH) - CH(OH) - CH₂(OH)

### Step 3: Identify the Structure of Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxylic acid group (–COOH) at one end. In triglycerides, three fatty acid molecules are attached to one glycerol molecule.

### Step 4: Formation of Triglycerides
The reaction between glycerol and fatty acids forms a triglyceride through a process called esterification. In this process, each fatty acid reacts with one hydroxyl group of glycerol, releasing a molecule of water (H₂O) for each bond formed. Therefore, one glycerol molecule combines with three fatty acid molecules to form a triglyceride.

### Step 5: Conclusion
Based on the above information, we can conclude that a fat molecule (triglyceride) consists of:
- **One glycerol molecule**
- **Three fatty acid molecules**

Thus, the correct answer to the question "A fat molecule has" is **one glycerol and three fatty acid molecules**.

### Final Answer
**One glycerol and three fatty acid molecules.**

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