What is the number of carbon atoms which the palmitic acid and arachidonic acid contain (including carboxyl carbon )?

Options

A. 16,19
B. 15,19
C. 16, 20
D. 18,20

Answer

To determine the number of carbon atoms in palmitic acid and arachidonic acid, including the carboxyl carbon, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Structure of Palmitic Acid**:
- Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid with the chemical formula C16H32O2.
- It contains a total of 16 carbon atoms, including the carboxyl carbon.

2. **Identify the Structure of Arachidonic Acid**:
- Arachidonic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid with the chemical formula C20H32O2.
- It contains a total of 20 carbon atoms, including the carboxyl carbon.

3. **Summarize the Findings**:
- Palmitic acid has 16 carbon atoms.
- Arachidonic acid has 20 carbon atoms.

4. **Combine the Results**:
- Therefore, the number of carbon atoms in palmitic acid and arachidonic acid, including the carboxyl carbon, are 16 and 20 respectively.

5. **Final Answer**:
- The correct option that summarizes this information is 16 for palmitic acid and 20 for arachidonic acid.