Reply #15: The are similar molecules and similar process used to make them both.

[HillbillyBob]

Margarine and semi solid veggie shortening is also made in a similar way using heat catalyze edible oils which by the way are also carbon based.
They are just much fresher than petroleum which has had a few million years to 'fossilize' under heat and pressure in the ground.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090311105530AAwd6oU

Is it true that margarine is one molecule to being plastic?

Answerer 1
margarine is made from hydrocarbons in a simple form, called lipids (fatty acids, or oil). Plastics are long chain polymers (several hydrocarbon molecules stuck together).

although they are made from essentially the same atoms, there is a more complex arrangement to plastics. Also "plastic" does not actually describe the manufacture but the properties of the product, and by that definition margarine is "plastic"

simple answer: they are made from the same stuff so yes margarine is plastic

Plastics are made from oil, and so are hydrocarbons. Margerine is made from lipids, which are a glycerol molecule, and 3 fatty acid molecules. Fatty acid molecules are a hydrocarbon with an -OOH group on the end.
So yes, margerine could be thought of as glycerol plus plastic!
Source(s):
A-level chem


I was mostly using it as an example , comparing the plastic we use to the plaque build up in your arteries from eating transfats. I supposed I did not make my self clear.

It was my Drs office PA that pointed the similarities of the two out to me, when we were discussing the build up in my arteries from the years of eating bad food, which is what I was raised on.