why are all the number of carbon atoms present in fats and oils even in number?

Answer 1

In all animals and plants, fats and oils are synthesized in part with Coenzyme A (abbreviated just CoA). CoA is great at carrying acetyl groups, which have two carbons. So, logically enough, if you make all your fats and oils using an enzyme that lugs around carbon in groups of two, you're going to always end up with an even number of carbons in the final product, unless something wacky happens to it.

Now, you'll note I said all that was true for PLANTS and ANIMALS. Thus it is not true for any fats and oils produced from other sources. Bacteria, for example, have ways of synthesizing things with odd numbers of carbons in them, and there are certainly much fewer restrictions to what can be accomplished aritifically in the lab!

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Most of the natural fatty acids have an even number of carbon atoms. The "even carbon number" natural fatty acids owe this to fact that their biosynthesis involves acetate which has two carbon atoms. The fatty acid is built up two carbons at a time.

Answer 3

Evolution