![]() ![]() Unsaturated fats or oils are usually of plant origin and contain cis unsaturated fatty acids. Plants store fat or oil in many seeds and use them as a source of energy during seedling development. Mammals store fats in specialized cells, or adipocytes, where fat globules occupy most of the cell’s volume. Animal fats with stearic acid and palmitic acid (common in meat) and the fat with butyric acid (common in butter) are examples of saturated fats. Long straight fatty acids with single bonds generally pack tightly and are solid at room temperature. A fat may contain similar or different fatty acids attached to glycerol. When a fatty acid has no double bonds, it is a saturated fatty acid because it is not possible to add more hydrogen to the chain’s carbon atoms. If there is one double bond in the molecule, then it is a monounsaturated fat (e.g., olive oil), and if there is more than one double bond, then it is a polyunsaturated fat (e.g., canola oil). Most unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature. Oleic acid is a common unsaturated fatty acid. Stearic acid is an example of a saturated fatty acid ( (Figure)). In other words, the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton is maximized. Saturated fatty acids are saturated with hydrogen. In a fatty acid chain, if there are only single bonds between neighboring carbons in the hydrocarbon chain, the fatty acid is saturated. Arachidic acid is derived from Arachis hypogea, the scientific name for groundnuts or peanuts.įatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated. For example, palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid, is derived from the palm tree. Some fatty acids have common names that specify their origin. We also call fats triacylglycerols or triglycerides because of their chemical structure. The three fatty acids in the triacylglycerol may be similar or dissimilar. Three water molecules release in the process.ĭuring this ester bond formation, three water molecules are released. Joining three fatty acids to a glycerol backbone in a dehydration reaction forms triacylglycerol. ![]()
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