Table 1.
Chemical structures and common names of some fatty acids.
| Chemical Structure | Number C Atoms | Omega Name | Common Name | Systematic Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| saturated fatty acids | ||||
|
12 | 12:0 | Lauric | Dodecanoic |
|
14 | 14:0 | Myristic | Tetradecanoic |
|
16 | 16:0 | Palmitic | Hexadecanoic |
|
18 | 18:0 | Stearic | Octadecanoic |
| unsaturated (cis) fatty acids | ||||
|
16 | 16:1 | Palmitoleic | 9-Hexadecenoic |
|
18 | 18:1 (w-9) | Oleic | 9-Octadecenoic |
|
18 | 18:2 (w-7) | Linoleic (LA) | 9, 12-Octadecadienoic |
|
18 | 18:3 (w-3) | α-Linolenic (ALA) | (all-cis-9,12,15) Octadecatrienoic |
|
20 | 20:4 (w-6) | Arachidonic | 5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraenoic |
|
20 | 20:5 (w-3) | Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) | 5,8,11,14,17-Eicosapentaenoic |
|
22 | 22:5 (w-6) | Docosapentanoic (DPA) | 4,7,10,13,16- Docosapentanoic |
|
22 | 22:6 (w-3) | Docosahexaenoic (DHA) | cis-docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid |