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Because unsaturated fatty acids have many double bonds and the atoms cannot rotate freely around those double bonds. In the saturated fatty acids, there are no double bonds (only single bonds) and so the atoms are free to rotate.

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Q: Why do saturated fatty acids have structures while unsaturated fatty acids have bent structures?
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Why do saturated fatty acids have straight structure while unsaturated fatty acids have bent structure?

saturated fatty acids contain more carbon atoms Saturated fatty acids have single carbon-to-carbon bonds.


Does the greater number of saturated fatty acids a membrane contains the more fluid it is?

Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds and therefore no 'kinks' in their structures. These would mean that these fatty acids can pack more closely than unsaturated fatty acids and cause the membrane to be LESS fluid.


What type of fatty acid has double bonds?

The two basic types of fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated. A fatty acid consists of a hydrocarbon chain and a carboxyl group: CH3(CH2)nCOOH Saturated fatty acids have only single bonds between the carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain ie the molecule is "saturated" with hydrogen atoms and no more can be added. Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds between the carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Fatty acids with a single double bond are called monounsaturated. Fatty acids with two or more double bonds are called polyunsaturated. See:http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/F/Fats.html


What is the significance of double bonds in the fatty acids?

Fatty acids are either saturated or unsaturated. When a fatty acid is saturated it is literally saturated with hydrogen bonds. This only occurs when there are single bonds present. If there are double bonds present between the carbon atoms, less hyrdogen atoms are required and the fatty acid is said to be unsaturated. These unsaturated fats are easier to break down by the cells of your body because double bonds react more readily.


What is the difference between a saturated and an unsaturated fatty acids?

Saturated fatty acid molecules have no carbon-carbon double bonds, and all of the remaining carbon bonds are shared by hydrogen atoms, except the one in the carboxyl group, at the beginning of the chain.Unsaturated fatty acid molecules also begin with the carboxyl group, but contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, and may contain one or more carbon atoms with a bonding electron that remains unassociated.

Related questions

Distinguish between saturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids?

There is no difference between saturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids. If you meant saturated fatty acids and UNsaturated fatty acids, then the unsaturated ones are the ones with double (or, theoretically, triple) bonds in the carbon chain.


Why do saturated fatty acids have straight structures while unsaturated fatty acids acids bent structures?

Saturated fatty acids have single carbon-to-carbon bonds (which tend to act like a rigid pole) while unsaturated fatty acids have double carbon-to-carbon bonds (which can act like hinges making the molecule flexible).


Why do saturated fatty acid have straight structures while unsaturated fatty acids have bent structures?

Saturated fatty acids have single carbon-to-carbon bonds (which tend to act like a rigid pole) while unsaturated fatty acids have double carbon-to-carbon bonds (which can act like hinges making the molecule flexible).


Why do saturated fatty acid's have straight structures while unsaturated fatty acids have Bent structures?

Saturated fatty acids have single carbon-to-carbon bonds (which tend to act like a rigid pole) while unsaturated fatty acids have double carbon-to-carbon bonds (which can act like hinges making the molecule flexible).


What is the difference between a saturated an a unsaturated fatty acid?

Unsaturated fatty acids have double bond or triple bonds, whereas saturated fatty acids do not.


Why is beef fat a solid at room temperature?

This is because it contains more saturated fatty acids then unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids have a higher melting point then unsaturated fatty acids.


Why do saturated fatty acid have straight structures while unsaturated fatty acid structure bend?

The bent structure in unsaturated fatty acids arises due to the presence of the double bonds.


Why do saturated fatty acid's have straight structures while unsaturated fatty acid's have bent structures?

Saturated fatty acids have single carbon-to-carbon bonds (which tend to act like a rigid pole) while unsaturated fatty acids have double carbon-to-carbon bonds (which can act like hinges making the molecule flexible).


Unsaturated fatty acids that have changed to saturated fatty acids are called?

trans fat


What is a distinguished characteristic of a saturated fatty acids?

Saturated fatty acids do not have double bonds between carbon atoms and unsaturated.


Are saturated fatty acid good for the body?

No, unsaturated fatty acids are good for body. (PUFA is every better, poly unsaturated fatty acids)


What causes unsaturated fatty acids to have a different shape than saturated fatty acids?

The double chain in the unsaturated fatty acid cause it to bent; unlike saturated fatty acid which has no double bond, is straight