mixed triglyceride

chemical compound

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June 30, 2026

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A mixed triglyceride is a type of lipid composed of glycerol and more than one type of fatty acid linked by ester bonds. These compounds are the primary way fatty acids are stored in biological systems.1

Triglycerides are hydrophobic and soluble in organic solvents, lacking electric charges, which classifies them as neutral lipids. Their molecular structure resembles a tuning fork. The melting points of mixed triglycerides are approximately the average of their constituent fatty acids' melting points.2

In higher animals and humans, triglycerides stored in adipose tissue serve as a major energy source, yielding more than twice the energy per gram compared to carbohydrates. They also provide insulation and padding for organs. Vegetable triglycerides, or oils, are typically liquid at room temperature and can be hardened through hydrogenation.34

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fat
Chemical composition of fats
…the simple type; most are mixed triglycerides (i.e., one molecule of glycerol is combined with two or three different fatty acids). Thus stearodipalmitin, C₃H₅(OCOC₁₅H₃₁)₂(OCOC₁₇H₃₅), contains two palmitic acid radicals and one stearic acid radical. Similarly, oleopalmitostearin, C₃H₅(OCOC₁₅H₃₁)(OCOC₁
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…the simple type; most are mixed triglycerides (i.e., one molecule of glycerol is combined with two or three different fatty acids). Thus stearodipalmitin, C₃H₅(OCOC₁₅H₃₁)₂(OCOC₁₇H₃₅), contains two palmitic acid radicals and one stearic acid radical. Similarly, oleopalmitostearin, C₃H₅(OCOC₁₅H₃₁)(OCOC₁
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lipid
Structure
…different, it is called a mixed triglyceride. For any specific combination of three fatty acids, three different molecules are possible, depending upon which of the three fatty acids is bonded to the central carbon of glycerol. Considering the numbers of common saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, it is evident…
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…different, it is called a mixed triglyceride. For any specific combination of three fatty acids, three different molecules are possible, depending upon which of the three fatty acids is bonded to the central carbon of glycerol. Considering the numbers of common saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, it is evident…
Read More