Saturated fats, unsaturated fats and triglycerides

What is it called when the fatty acid chain has the maximum number of hydrogen atoms?

A saturated fatty acid.

What is the structure of saturated fatty acids?

• Long, straight hydrocarbon chain

• High melting point

• No carbon to carbon double bonds

• No more hydrogen can be added to it

Why are animal fats solid at room temperature?

The strong intermolecular bonds between triglycerides made up of saturated fatty acids results in fats thats are solid in room temperature.

What are the two types of unsaturated fats?

Mono unsaturated fats

Polyunsaturated fats

Structure of mono unsaturated fats

They have one double bond between two carbon atoms in each fatty acid chain

Structure of polyunsaturated fats

They have a large number of double bonds (poly)

A double bond causes a kink in the hydrocarbon chain. These kinks prevent the unsaturated hydrocarbon chains packing closely together.

The distance between the molecules cause weak intermolecular forces between unsaturated triglycerides.

Why are unsaturated triglycerides liquid at room temperature?

They have a low melting point. This is because the distance between the molecules cause weak intermolecular forces.

Whats the difference between saturated and unsaturated bonds?

Saturated: c-c

Unsaturated: c=c

Structure of triglycerides

They are made up of three fatty acids and one glycerol molecule- these are linked by condensation reactions.

The bond formed between each fatty acid and glycerol is called an ester bond.