Other Reactions - MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

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Question

In the human body, glycerol and three fatty acids can act together to form triacyl glycerol in a process known as esterification. The reverse of this process is known as                     .

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Answer

When an alcohol and carboxylic acid are reacted together they can form an ester, in a process known as esterification. This is what happens with glycerol and fatty acids to form triacyl glycerol. The reverse of this process is an organic chemistry reaction known as saponification, in which an ester and water are reacted to form carboxylic acids and alcohol.

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