Hydrolysis of Olestra's Bonds Requires 9 Water Molecules

Steps:

• Olestra is sucrose esterified at all 8 hydroxyl groups with fatty acids.
• Hydrolyzing the 8 ester bonds requires 8 water molecules to release 8 fatty acids and regenerate sucrose.
• The glycosidic bond in sucrose must then be hydrolyzed with 1 water molecule to yield glucose and fructose.
• Total: 8 (esters) + 1 (glycosidic) = 9 water molecules.

Why C is correct:

• Olestra hydrolysis to fatty acids, fructose, and glucose breaks 8 ester linkages and 1 glycosidic bond per the reaction stoichiometry, each consuming one H₂O.

Why the others are wrong:

• A. 11: Overestimates by adding nonexistent bonds in sucrose or fatty acids.
• B. 10: Counts an extra bond, possibly confusing olestra variants with fewer esters.
• D. 8: Only hydrolyzes esters to sucrose and fatty acids, omitting the step to separate fructose and glucose.

Final answer: C