Noun

1. Any of a class of aliphatic carboxylic acids, of general formula C_nH_2n+1COOH, that occur combined with glycerol as animal or vegetable oils and fats. Only those with an even number of carbon atoms are normally found in natural fats
   • Note: The above general formula applies to the saturated fatty acids. Remove 2 hydrogen atoms for an unsaturated fatty acid, and 2 hydrogen atoms for every double bond in a polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Related terms

• acetic acid - C₂
• butyric acid - C₄
• caproic acid - C₆
• capric acid - C₈
• caprylic acid - C₁₀
• lauric acid - C₁₂
• myristic acid - C₁₄
• palmitic acid - C₁₆

• stearic acid - C₁₈
• arachidic acid - C₂₀
• obtusilic acid, caproleic acid - C₁₀ unsaturated
• lauroleic acid, linderic acid - C₁₂ unsaturated
• myristoleic acid, physeteric acid, tsuzuic acid - C₁₄ unsaturated
• palmitoleic acid - C₁₆ unsaturated
• petroselinic acid, oleic acid, vaccenic acid - C₁₈ unsaturated

• gadoleic acid, gondoic acid - C₂₀ unsaturated
• cetoleic acid, erucis acid - C₂₂ unsaturated
• nervonic acid - C₂₄ unsaturated
• elaidic acid - C₁₈ trans-unsaturated
• linoleic acid - C₁₈ diunsaturated
• linolenic acid - C₁₈ polyunsaturated
• arachidonic acid - C₂₀ polyunsaturated