The name given to simple triglycerides
In nature, fatty acids are found as esters, often of the triol glycerin, HOCH2CHOHCH2OH. These triesters of glycerin are known as triacylglycerols or triglycerides.
Simple triglycerides usually bear the name of the component acid with a prefix of tri- and a suffix of –in replacing the terminal –ic of the acid e.g. tributyrin.
With mixed triglycerides in which there are three different fatty acids, the name of the first two single acids end with the suffix –yl and the third single single acid ends with the suffix –in, e.g., α-caproxyl- β - lauryl – α’-olein.
* The first carbon following the carboxyl carbon is α carbon.
* The second carbon following the carboxyl carbon is β carbon.
* The third carbon following the carboxyl carbon is α’ carbon.
* The last carbon in the chain, farthest from the carboxyl group, is the omega carbon.
If the mixed triglycerides has two molecules of the same acid, the prefix di- and suffix –in are given to this acid (e.g. β–palmityl- α, α’-distearin).
The glycerol carbon may be numbered as 1, 2, 3 or be designate as α, β, α’. Thus, β–palmityl- α, α’-distearin could be designated 2–palmityl- 1, 3-distearin.
The name given to simple triglycerides
