Question

(10 marks] (c) Anna wanted to bake cake and went to the grocery store to purchase olive oil margarine. She placed it in her car boot during the hot sunny day. When she arrived home, she discovered that the margarine had spilled because the lid of the container was partially open. Anna was upset about it Anna said that the spillage can be prevented chemically but it could make it less healthy. Using your understanding of chemistry knowledge, comment on Anna's statement. [10 marks]

Answer 1

Olive oil is composed mainly of the mixed triglyceride esters of oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and of other fatty acids. All these fatty acids have unsaturation in their long carbon chain.

If someone forgets to put the cap on a bottle of oil the oil within will be exposed to oxygen. oxygen attacks that double bond and forms a carbon-oxygen bond. This carbon-oxygen bond can lead to a number of products, including an aldehyde, ketone or carboxylic acid. Some of these products have rancid odors and tastes,