Question:

The chemical formula of palmitic acid is:

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Palmitic acid is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in animals and plants, and its structure consists of a 16-carbon chain with a carboxyl group at the end.
Updated On: Jun 17, 2025
  • CH4(CH2)14COOH
  • CH3(CH2)15COOH
  • CH3(CH2)14COOH
  • CH3(CH3)14COOH
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The chemical formula of palmitic acid, which is a saturated fatty acid, is CH3(CH2)14COOH. It consists of a long hydrocarbon chain (14 carbon atoms), with a carboxyl group (-COOH) at one end. This formula is widely known and is used as a standard reference for palmitic acid.
- Option (1): The formula CH4(CH2)14COOH is incorrect as it contains an extra CH4 group which is not part of the structure of palmitic acid.
- Option (2): The formula CH3(CH2)15COOH corresponds to a fatty acid with 15 carbon atoms, which is not palmitic acid but another fatty acid.
- Option (4): The formula CH3(CH3)14COOH is incorrect because the structure includes incorrect carbon bonding and doesn't correspond to any known fatty acid.
Thus, the correct answer is option (3): The chemical formula of palmitic acid is CH3(CH2)14COOH.
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