Useful information about the structures of triglycerides

Chapter 28, Problem 66

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Useful information about the structures of triglycerides can be obtained through saponification reactions. The saponification value of a triglyceride is the number of milligrams of KOH required to saponify 1.00 g of the triglyceride. Unsaturation in the fatty acids in triglycerides can be discovered by studying reactions in which is added across double bonds. The iodine number is the number of grams of I that reacts with 100 g of a triglyceride. 2 I2 (a) Determine the saponification value of glyceryl tristearate and the iodine number of glyceryl trioleate. (b) Castor oil is a mixture of triglycerides with about 90% of its fatty acid content in ricinoleic acid, Estimate the saponification value and the iodine number of castor oil. (c) Based on the composition given in Table 28.2, estimate the range of values for the saponification value and iodine number of safflower oil.