Common

Chemical structure C:D

name

Caprylic
CH3(CH2)6COOH 8:0
acid

Capric acid CH3(CH2)8COOH 10:0

Lauric acid CH3(CH2)10COOH 12:0

Myristic acid CH3(CH2)12COOH 14:0

Palmitic acid CH3(CH2)14COOH 16:0

Stearic acid CH3(CH2)16COOH 18:0

Arachidic
CH3(CH2)18COOH 20:0
acid

Behenic
CH3(CH2)20COOH 22:0
acid

Lignoceric
CH3(CH2)22COOH 24:0
acid

Cerotic acid CH3(CH2)24COOH 26:0

 Examples of Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Common C: n−
Chemical structure Δx
name D x

Myristoleic 14 n−
CH3(CH2)3CH=CH(CH2)7COOH cis-Δ9
acid :1 5

Palmitoleic 16 n−
CH3(CH2)5CH=CH(CH2)7COOH cis-Δ9
acid :1 7

Sapienic 16 n−
CH3(CH2)8CH=CH(CH2)4COOH cis-Δ6
acid :1 10

18 n−
Oleic acid CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH cis-Δ9
:1 9

18 n−
Elaidic acid CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH trans-Δ9
:1 9

Vaccenic 18 n−
CH3(CH2)5CH=CH(CH2)9COOH trans-Δ11
acid :1 7

Linoleic 18 n−
CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOH cis,cis-Δ9,Δ12
acid :2 6
Linoelaidic trans,trans- 18 n−
CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOH
acid Δ ,Δ9 12
:2 6

α-Linolenic cis,cis,cis- 18 n−
CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOH
acid Δ9,Δ12,Δ15 :3 3

Arachidonic CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)3 cis,cis,cis,cis- 20 n−

acid COOH NIST
Δ Δ ,Δ ,Δ
5 8 11 14
:4 6

cis,cis,cis,cis,
Eicosapent CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH= cis- 20 n−
aenoic acid CH(CH2)3COOH Δ ,Δ ,Δ ,Δ ,
5 8 11 14
:5 3
Δ 17

22 n−
Erucic acid CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)11COOH cis-Δ13
:1 9

cis,cis,cis,cis,
Docosahex CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH= cis,cis- 22 n−
aenoic acid CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)2COOH Δ4,Δ7,Δ10,Δ13, :6 3
Δ16,Δ19

Fatty Acids

Acid Structure Melting Graphic

Name Point

SATURATED

Lauric CH3(CH2)10COOH +44

 Palmitic CH3(CH2)14COOH +63

Stearic CH3(CH2)16COOH +70

UNSATURATED

Oleic CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH +16

Linoleic CH3(CH2)4(CH=CHCH2)2(CH2)6COOH -5

Linolenic CH3CH2(CH=CHCH2)3(CH2)6COOH -11

Arachidonic CH3(CH2)4(CH=CHCH2)4(CH2)2COOH -50