Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Organic Chemistry Forum for Graduate Students and Professionals => Topic started by: skittlez on February 22, 2022, 12:42:57 PM

Title: Which fatty acid would have a lower melting point?
Post by: skittlez on February 22, 2022, 12:42:57 PM

Which fatty acid would have a lower melting point, one with a cis alkene between carbons 9 and 10 or one with a cis alkene between carbons 13 and 14? Both have 16 carbons total. Please explain.

I believe both would have the same melting point.. but I don't quite know how to explain it.

Title: Re: Which fatty acid would have a lower melting point?
Post by: Babcock_Hall on February 22, 2022, 04:17:22 PM

I suggest writing something down that focuses on intermolecular forces.  A good place to start might be to compare either compound to a 16-carbon fatty acid that is completely saturated.