Structure of palmitate (palmitic acid, C16) Palmitate is a 16-carbon fatty acid that is typically:

Introduction / Context:
Naming conventions for fatty acids encode chain length and unsaturation. Palmitate (palmitic acid) is one of the most abundant saturated fatty acids in animals and plants. Correctly identifying its double bond count is fundamental in lipid chemistry and nutrition science.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Palmitate is denoted 16:0 in shorthand.
• Chain length = 16 carbons.
• Unsaturation number = 0 when saturated.

Concept / Approach:

Shorthand X:Y indicates carbon number X and number of double bonds Y. For palmitate, 16:0 means a saturated C16 fatty acid with zero double bonds. It is a major product of de novo fatty acid synthesis via fatty acid synthase, which commonly terminates at palmitate before elongation/desaturation steps modify it further.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Databases and textbooks consistently list palmitic acid as C16:0; common palmitoleic acid is C16:1 Δ9, a different molecule.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Options B–D describe unsaturated variants, not palmitate. Option E confuses geometry and saturation; palmitate is not polyunsaturated and has no double bonds at all.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing palmitate (C16:0) with palmitoleate (C16:1) or equating chain length with degree of unsaturation.

Final Answer:

Fully saturated with 0 double bonds