Table 1.
Descriptions of common fatty acids
| Common name | Carbons | Double-bonds | Scientific name | Common source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formic | 1 | 0 | methanoic acid | insect stings |
| Acetic | 2 | 0 | ethanoic acid | vinegar |
| Propionic | 3 | 0 | propanoic acid | bacteria fermentation |
| Butyric | 4 | 0 | butanoic acid | butter fat |
| Caproic | 6 | 0 | hexanoic acid | goat fat |
| Caprylic | 8 | 0 | octanoic acid | coconut oil |
| Capric | 10 | 0 | decanoic acid | coconut oil |
| Lauric | 12 | 0 | dodecanoic acid | coconut oil |
| Myristic | 14 | 0 | tetradecanoic acid | palm kernel oil |
| Palmitic | 16 | 0 | hexadecanoic acid | palm oil |
| Palmitoleic | 16 | 1 | 9-hexadecenoic acid | animal fats |
| Stearic | 18 | 0 | octadecanoic acid | animal fats |
| Oleic | 18 | 1 | 9-octadecenoic acid | olive oil |
| Ricinoleic | 18 | 1 | 12-hydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid | castor oil |
| Vaccenic | 18 | 1 | 11-octadecenoic acid | butterfat |
| Linoleic | 18 | 2 | 9,12-octadecadienoic acid | grape seed oil |
| α-Linolenic | 18 | 3 | 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid | flaxseed (linseed) oil |
| γ-Linolenic | 18 | 3 | 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid | borage oil |
| Arachidic | 20 | 0 | eicosanoic acid | peanut oil, fish oil |
| Gadoleic | 20 | 1 | 9-eicosenoic acid | fish oil |
| Arachidonic | 20 | 4 | 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid | liver fats |
| Eicosapentaenoic | 20 | 5 | 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid | fish oil |
| Behenic | 22 | 0 | docosanoic acid | rapeseed oil |
| Erucic | 22 | 1 | 13-docosenoic acid | rapeseed oil |
| Docosahexaenoic | 22 | 6 | 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid | fish oil |
| Lignoceric | 24 | 0 | tetracosanoic acid | some in most fats |