Fat and oil are both triacylglycerols (a triacylglycerol is an ester formed from glycerol and three fatty acids). Fat is solid at room temperature and oil is liquid at room temperature.
To name an ester,
1. Identify the alcohol and carboxylic acid from which the ester is formed.
2. Name the alkyl group corresponding to the alcohol and add the name of the carboxylic acid with the -oic acid changed to -ate (e.g., propanol + ethanoic acid propyl ethanoate).
© 1996-2007 Eric W. Weisstein
triacylglycerol – tri·ac·yl·glyc·er·ol (tr-sl-gls-rôl, -rl) n. A naturally occurring ester of three fatty acids and glycerol that is the chief constituent of fats and oils. Also called triglyceride.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
