Chem 203

Biochemistry Laboratory

Name Course & Year

Group no./Section Date

EXPERIMENT NO. 9
PROPERTIES OF FATS AND OILS

Objective: To distinguished the properties of different kinds of fats and oil.

Apparatus: Test tubes, graduated cylinder, 250 ml beaker, thermometer, Bunsen burner,
stirring rod, water bath, evaporating dish, and funnel

Materials: Coconut oil, olive oil, linseed oil, ethyl alcohol, chloroform, filter paper,
alcoholic iodine solution, potassium bisulfite
Theory:
Fats (are solids) and Oils (are liquids) are esters formed from the higher fatty acids
(C12 – C22) and glycerols. Fats are esters of trihydric alcohols, glycerols, and certain but
not all organic acids. They are formed by reacting glycerol and fatty acids. All three of
the glycerol alcohol radicals are esterified with three fatty acids, fats are termed
triglycerides.
Animal fats and vegetable oils are the most widely occurring lipids. Although they
appear different – animal fats like butter and lard as solids whereas vegetable oils like
corn oil and peanut oil are liquid, their structure are closely related.
Procedure:

A. Solubility & Density:

Place 3 drops each of the ff: oils: coconut oil and olive oil into 2
separate test tubes. Test the solubility of each oil with water, ethanol, ether,
and carbon tetra chloride. Tabulate your results.

Solubility & Density: Write your observations

NAME OF OIL Water Ethanol Warm Ethanol Carbon

Tetrachloride

Coconut

Olive

B. Spotting Effect:

1. Place a drop of coconut oil and water on a piece of filter paper.

2. Allow to stand for 5 minutes.

Observations:

C. Acrolein Test:

1. Heat 2 to 3 drops of coconut oil with about 0.5 gram of potassium bisulfite in
an evaporating dish. Note the odor.

Observations?

Equation?
 2. Heat 2 to 3 drops of glycerol with about 0.5 gram of potassium bisulfite in an
evaporating dish. Note the odor.

Observations?

Equation?

D. Test for Unsaturation:

1. Dissolve 0.5 mL each of coconut oil, linseed oil, olive oil and cottonseed oil
in one mL of chloroform into 4 separate test tubes.
2. Add alcoholic iodine solution drop by drop into each test tube and shake
well.
3. Compare the amounts of alcoholic iodine solution necessary to change the
color in each test tube
Observations:

Unsaturation :

Name of oil Color with alcoholic iodine No. of drops

solution
Coconut Oil
Linseed Oil

Which oil absorbed more alcoholic iodine solution?

Which oil is unsaturated?

Questions:

 Differentiate Fats and Oils.

 What kind of fat is considered good for the body, saturated fat or unsaturated fat?
Why?

Give at least 5 common sources for each type of fat.

 Define the following terms: Triglycerides, Fatty acids, Lipids, Glycerol

 discuss the steps involve in the rancidity of fats and oils and enumerate ways to
prevent rancidity of fats and oils.

 Discuss the physiological functions of lipids.