Carboxylic Acid Table
(All fatty acids are carboxylic acids)

Formula IUPAC Common Name (Source) Click for Structure
Small Saturated
Straight Chain Carboxylic Acids
CH2O2 Methanoic Acid Formic Acid
C2H4O2 Ethanoic Acid Acetic Acid
C3H6O2 Propanoic Acid Propionic Acid
C4H8O2 n-Butanoic Acid
C5H10O2 n-Pentanoic Acid
C6H12O2 n-Hexanoic Acid
C7H14O2 n-Heptanoic Acid
C8H16O2 n-Octanoic Acid
C9H18O2 n-Nonanoic Acid
C10H20O2 n-Decanoic Acid
Saturated Straight Chain
Fatty Acids
C12H24O2 n-Dodecanoic Acid n-Lauric Acid (Coconut Oil)
C14H28O2 n-Tetradecanoic Acid n-Myristic Acid
C16H32O2 n-Hexadecanoic Acid n-Palmitic Acid
(Palm Oil)
C18H36O2 n-Octadecanoic Acid n-Stearic Acid
C20H40O2 n-Eicosanoic Acid n-Arachidic Acid
C22H44O2 n-Docosanoic Acid n-Behenic Acid
C24H48O2 n-Tetracosanoic Acid n-Lignoceric Acid
cis-Monounsaturated
Straight Chain Fatty Acids
C16H30O2 (16:1) cis-*9-hexadecenoic Acid Palmitoleic Acid
C18H34O2 (18:1) Oleic Acid
cis-Polyunsaturated
Straight Chain fatty Acids
C18H32O2(18:2) (w-6) Linoleic Acid (LA)
C18H30O2 (18:3 *9,12,15) (w-3) a-Linolenic Acid (ALA)
C18H3O2 (18:3 *6,9,12) (w-6) y-Linolenic Acid
C20H32O2 (20:4) Arachidonic Acid (AA)
C20H30O2 (20:5) Eicosapentaenoic Acid /EPA
C22H32O2 (22:6) Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
trans-Monounsaturated
Straight Chain Fatty Acids
C18H34O2 (18:1 trans-11) Transvaccenic (hydrogenated by b. fibrisolvens in ruminants)
C18H34O2 (18:1 trans-9) Elaidic (from artificial hydrogenation)
trans-Polyunsaturated Straight Chain Fatty Acids
C18H32O2 (18:2 cis-9-trans-11) Rumenic Acid,
the most biologically active
trans-linoleic acid isomer