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Lipids
These are fat and oil molecules. They are esters of the alcohol, propane-1,2,3-triol (glycerol) and long chain fatty acids. Fatty acids are simply carboxylic acids found in fats. The sodium salt of octadecanoic acid (stearic acid) is the main component of everyday soap. The ester linkages are hydrolysed by the action of sodium hydroxide solution to give glycerol and the sodium salts of the fatty acids - this is the principal reaction involved in soap making:
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