[TK]

Hi. I'm new to this and I have an urgent question which keeps buggin me and would like to have it answered.

  For the synthesis of  Glycerol Tristearate, i was told it is produced by adding glycerol and stearic acid through a process of esterification. that is clear to me. However, as we allknow, glycerol is an alcohol with its 3 carbons each having its own -OH group attached to it. So, when it goes through esterifcation, how does its product have 3 stearic acids attached to each carbon of the alcohol when we only have one stearic acid to start off wit as the reactant?
Am i missing an important process in the middle in order to make sense? is there polymerization occurring in the middle or something ?
It would be greatly appreciated if I can get help in understanding how the bonds changes and how glycerol Tristearate is properly formed.

[Borek]

If you start with one molecule of each rectant, you will get monostearate. But if you use excess stearic acid esterification wil proceed further. Even if you use 1 mole of each reactant you will probably get some mixture of mono-, di- and perhaps even tristearate.