Which one of the following is a trans fatty acid found in most snack foods? 

A. Stearic acid
B. Carboxyl acid
C. Oleic acid
D. Elaidic acid

I've been trying to find this answer all day and I have no idea.

Apparently you didn't Google it.

http://www.google.com/#q=+trans+fatty+acid+found+in+most+snack+foods

Thank you so much!

You're very welcome.

To determine which of the following is a trans fatty acid found in most snack foods, it is helpful to understand what trans fatty acids are and how they are formed.

Trans fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids that have a specific molecular configuration, where the hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms are on opposite sides of the double bond. These fatty acids are typically formed through a process called hydrogenation, which involves the addition of hydrogen atoms to unsaturated fats, primarily vegetable oils. This process increases the shelf life and stability of the fats, making them suitable for use in the food industry.

Now let's analyze the options provided:

A. Stearic acid: Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid found in many animal and vegetable fats. It is not a trans fatty acid and is not commonly found in snack foods.

B. Carboxyl acid: Carboxyl acid is not a specific type of fatty acid. It is a functional group found in all fatty acids, and it does not provide any information about whether the fatty acid is trans or not.

C. Oleic acid: Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid commonly found in olive oil, canola oil, and other plant-based oils. It is not a trans fatty acid and is not typically present in most snack foods.

D. Elaidic acid: Elaidic acid is a trans fatty acid that is formed during the hydrogenation process. It has the same chemical formula as the cis-oleic acid (a natural fatty acid), but the arrangement of atoms is different. Elaidic acid is commonly found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and is frequently used in snack foods.

Based on this analysis, the trans fatty acid found in most snack foods is D. Elaidic acid.