How many carbons atoms do fatty acids contain?Multiple choice question.> 125 – 5012 – 20> 15

To answer the question regarding how many carbon atoms fatty acids typically contain, let’s analyze the options provided:

1. Understanding Fatty Acids: Fatty acids are long-chain hydrocarbons and generally consist of a straight chain of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms, with a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) at one end.

2. Common Ranges: Saturated fatty acids usually range from about 12 to 20 carbon atoms in length for most naturally occurring fatty acids. However, there are some longer chains that can have around 22 to 30 carbon atoms in certain rare fatty acids found in biological systems.

3. Evaluating Options:

   • 125 – 50: This range is too high for fatty acids.
   • 12 – 20: This range accurately represents a common number of carbon atoms found in many fatty acids.
   • 15: While 15 falls within the typical range, it does not encompass the fuller spectrum of fatty acids.

Final Answer

Based on the analysis, the correct answer is 12 – 20.