[big]

Hydrolysis (saponification) of a fat gives
A) water and an alkene
B) glycerol and soap
C) ethanol and a soap
D) a triester of glycerol with fatty acids

I thought it was B, but the answer is supposedly D? So to set everything straight, doesn't saponification normally produce a soap? I don't understand how hydrolysis would give a triester, doesn't it normally split esters? If someone could please clarify, I would really appreciate it!

[fledarmus]

You're right, a fat is a triester of glycerol with fatty acids, and saponification of the fat gives glycerol and soap.

[big]

I have a related question.

Can soaps be like:
R-SO₃^- Na⁺, where R is just CH₃(CH₂)₁₁-?

[Hunter2]

This we don't call soap. These are surfactants or tensids.

[fledarmus]

Or detergents