Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry

College of Arts and Sciences

Visayas State University

Date Performed: June 15, 2017 Score: ________

Date Submitted: June 21, 2017 Prepared by: BS Chem-2

Experiment No. 4
Lipids

Objectives:
 Observe some physical and chemical properties of lipids.
 Distinguish between saturated and unsaturated fats.
 Observe saponification of triacylglycerol in the preparation of soap.
 Test for reactions of soap with soft water, oil and CaCl2.

Results:
A. Equations for the Formation and Hydrolysis of a Triacylglycerol

B. Solubility
Table 1. Solubility of Lipids in Water and Hexane
Solvents
Lipid Type
Water Hexane
Stearic acid Fatty acid Not soluble Soluble
Canola oil Triacylglycerol Not soluble Soluble
Butter Triacylglycerol Not soluble Soluble
Lecithin Not performed Not performed
Cholesterol Steroid Not soluble Soluble
Vitamin A Terpenes Not soluble Soluble
C. Test for Unsaturation
Table 2. Reactivity of Lipids with Bromine Solution
Types of Lipids Compound Drops of Bromine Solution
Stearic acid (-)
Fatty Acid
Oleic acid 52 (+)
Palm oil (-)
Coconut oil 42 (+)
Triacylglycerol
Canola oil (-)
Cholesterol (-)

Table 2.2. Structures of Fatty Acids

Fatty Acid Structure

Stearic acid

Oleic acid

Linoleic acid

D. Saponifcation: Formation of Soap

Equation for saponification

E. Reactions of Soaps
Table 3. Difference of Prepare Soap and Commercial Soap (Ariel)
Observations
Test
Soap ( Prepared) Commercial Product (Ariel)
Shaking Bubbles had formed. Bubbles had formed.
pH 7.80 10.92
Oil mixed with water and with some
Addition of Oil Oil mixed with water.
detergent floats.
Addition of
White precipitate has formed. White precipitate has formed.
CaCl2
Addition of White precipitate has formed White precipitate has formed and settled
MgCl2 and floats. at the bottom of the solution.
Discussion
Based on the chemical equation 1.1 above, 3 moles of fatty acids are required to react with 1
mole of glycerol and yields 1 mole of triacylglycerol and 3 moles of water. This reaction is also termed
as dehydration reaction because water molecules are released after the reaction has occurred
effectively forming the triacylglycerol. When the triacylglycerol is hydrolyzed, 3 moles of water is
required to break the three –O- bonds between glycerol and fatty acids, and produce 3 moles of fatty
acids and 1 mole of glycerol.
Between the two fatty acids used in the test for unsaturation, it is the oleic acid together with
bromine solution produce an orange solution. It’s the double bond in the oleic molecule that reacted
with the said solution causing the production of the color orange. Therefore, oleic acid is an
unsaturated fatty acid while stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid since there were no notable changes.
Among linoleic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid, linoleic acid is classified as the most unsaturated
fatty acid because of the presence of double bonds in carbons 9 & 12, and stearic acid is classified as
the most saturated fatty acid since double bond is absent in its structure. And among the
triacylglycerols, only the coconut oil that reacted effectively with the bromine solution, and therefore,
is classified as the most unsaturated triacylglycerol among the group. And butter, although not
included in the test, is the most saturated triacylglycerol because it is the one that is solid at room
temperature, which is one of the properties of saturated fats.
From the chemical equation 2 of formation of soap, 3 moles of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, are
required to react with a fatty acid to produce a soap and 1 mole of glycerol. The hydrolysis and
neutralization process is termed as saponification and ethanol was added in order to hard soap
batches to better mix the soap making materials during the saponification process. It is a vital additive
for attaining the most clarity in transparent glycerin soap. It helps the chemical reaction between the
sodium hydroxide solution and the fatty oils.
The reaction of the prepared soap was compared with the reaction of the commercial soap,
specifically Ariel. When the two soap samples were shook, they both produced bubbles. Upon
measuring the pH of the two soap samples using pH meter, the prepared soap has a pH of 7.80 while
the commercial soap has pH of 10.92 which is very basic. When 5 drops of oil were added into each
of the soap solutions and was shook for a while, it was found out that the oil mixed with water. This was
because soap allows oil to dissolve in water. Soap is a surfactant, which means that it has properties
similar to water and oil. When the oil, soap, and water are mixed together, soap breaks the oil and
water molecules into very small droplets, thus, the substances appeared to be mixed. Lastly, when the
two soap samples were added with CaCl2 and MgCl2 salts, both produced white precipitates. The
precipitates can be seen in the soapy water and are referred to as soap scum.

Conclusion
Lipids are slippery when touched and/or in contact with the skin and are water-insoluble but
soluble in organic solvents. They appear in two forms. They could be solids or liquids substances and
can be also be described as greasy substances.
Saturated fats can directly be distinguish from unsaturated fats by looking or examining their
physical appearance. Unsaturated fats appeared to be liquid at room temperature in the form of oil
because of the double bond(s) that is/are present in its molecule. While saturated fatty acids are solids
at room temperature. They are also determined through the use of bromine. If an orange solution is
produced, then, that fatty acid is unsaturated and saturated in the other way.
In the saponification process, fatty acids are released as sodium salts with sufficient sodium
hydroxide and the mixture of these salts of long-chain fatty acids is soap. Which is fully precipitated out
by adding saturated NaCl.
 Soap with soft water will more likely produce bubbles when shake. With oil, it tends to produce
a homogenous solution, as if there is no oil added to the solution. And soap will produce white
precipitates when reacted with salts which are visible even one drop is added.

Reference(s) and Link(s):

Ferrier, Denise R. Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews Biochemistry. Sixth Edition.
Romualdez, A., Sado, F., Sagum, I., San Juan, N., Sandoval, & A., Savella, A. SYNTHESES OF SOAP
AND DETERGENT.
http://www.oit.edu/docs/default-source/library-documents/library-publishing/che102-intro-
organic-chemistry/chapter-4-9.pdf?sfvrsn=2
http://www.ehow.com/about_6384669_ethanol-used-make-soap_.html

Answers to Questions.
1. Explain why the above compounds are classified as lipids.
They are classified as lipids because they are insoluble in water and soluble in hexane
which is an organic substance, which best fitted with the characteristic of lipids which water-
insoluble compounds but soluble in organic solvents.

2. What type of solvent is needed to remove an oil spot? Why?

A nonpolar solvent. It is because oil is a nonpolar substance which dissolves in another
nonpolar substances. As stated by the Rule of Thumb, “like dissolves like”. This means that liquid
polar substances dissolves polar substances and liquid nonpolar substances dissolves nonpolar
substances.

3. Which is the most unsaturated fatty acid?

Linoleic acid is the most unsaturated fatty acid.

4. Which is the most saturated fatty acid?

Stearic acid is the most saturated fatty acid.

5. Which is the most unsaturated triacylglycerol?

Coconut oil is the most unsaturated triacylglycerol.

6. Which is the most saturated triacylglycerol?

Butter is the most saturated triacylglycerol.

7. What is the effect of soap on a layer of oil?

Soap allows oil to dissolve in water.

8. How does soap react with the salts CaCl2 and MgCl2?
Soap reacts with the salts CaCl2 and MgCl2 by producing white precipitate.
Appendix

Solubility test of Lipids Test for Unsaturation Preparation of Soap

Reaction of Soap and Reaction of Soap and

Commercial soap with Commercial Soap with
Oil. CaCl2 and MgCl2 salts.