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If a fatty acid has a completely single-bonded carbon chain with as many hydrogen atoms as possible bound to the chain, it is refered to as a "saturated" fat. It is literally saturated with hydrogen atoms. If the chain has one or more double bonds, those double bonds reduce the number of hydrogen atoms, and so that is an "unsaturated" fat.

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How many carbons atoms in a completed lipid?

It varies depending on the type of lipid, but most lipids contain around 12-24 carbon atoms. Lipids are made up of fatty acids, which are long chains of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.


The most common number of carbons in fatty acid hydrocarbon chains of membrane phospholipids?

The most common number of carbons in fatty acid hydrocarbon chains of membrane phospholipids is 16 or 18. These chain lengths are prevalent in phospholipids due to their stable and fluid properties, which are essential for maintaining membrane structure and function.


Distinguish between a saturated and an unsaturated fat and list some unique emergent properties that are a consequence of these structural differences?

A fat is saturated when all of the carbon atoms in the fatty acid chains are bonded to at least two hydrogens. A fat is unsaturated when there is at least one double bond between carbons in the fatty acid chains, and it is polyunsaturated when there are multiple double bonds. The hydrocarbon chains of polyunsaturated fats bend at the places where there are double bonds and this causes them to have low melting points - the fat molecules do not align close together.


Ball-like bacteria linked in chains are called?

Ball-like bacteria linked in chains are called streptococci.


How does phospholipid differ from triglyceride?

Phospholipids are a class of lipids, and a major component of all biological membranes, along with glycolipids, cholesterol and proteins. Phospholipids consist of a glycerol molecule chemically bonded to 2 long fatty acid chains and a phosphoester through a process called condensation. Phospholipids are amphipatic (has a hydrophillic region and a hydrophobic region) due to the hydrophillic phosphoester and the hydrophobic fatty acid chains. Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body. They're also present in blood plasma. These consist of a glycerol molecule chemically bonded to 3 long fatty acid chains via a process called condensation. Triglycerides are hydrophobic as the long fatty acid chains are hydrophobic as they are far too long to react with water.

Related Questions

Are saturated fatty acids the principal molecules in lard and butter?

Yes, a long chains of single bonded carbons the are saturated with a full complement of hydrogens.


What is unique about carbons?

Carbon is unique because it can form four bonds, allowing it to act as the backbone for many molecules, and also because of the many structures it can form (rings, linear chains, double-bonded chains, triple-bonded chains, flat sheets, and buckminsterfullerene.


What is a saturated hydrocarbons?

A hydrocarbon is just what it sounds like, carbons with hydrogens on them. Carbon is able to form four (4) bonds to other elements (from the octet rule), where as Hydrogen can only from one (only has s orbital). Hydrocarbon chains are linkages between carbons with hydrogens coming off the carbon. H3C-(CH2)n-CH3 is the chemical formula, where n is the number of linking carbons. Cn-H(2n+2) is the chemical formula, where n is the total number of carbons, notice each carbon is bonded to two carbons and two hydrogens, thus 2n; plus 2 because the terminal carbons have 3 H-C bonds and one C-C bond. They are said to be saturated when they follow Cn-H(2n+2), which is to say there are no double bonds. An unsaturated hydrocarbon occurs when carbons forms two bonds between them, i.e. C=C instead of C-C. This gives rise to a loss of two hydrogens because the carbons can only have four total bonds to it. H3C-CH2-CH=CH-CH3 would be an example. Notice that it only has 10 hydrogens, where there would be 12 in a saturated hydrocarbon.


How does butter work?

Butter is composed of fatty acids and long hydrocarbon chains; these are 'saturated', meaning there are no double bonds in the chains (so end carbons have 3 hydrogen, internal carbons have 2 hydrogen bonded). When the temperature rises, these bonds more easily break (than compared to unsaturated fats, with double bonded chains) and so what is solid at room temperature or a bit cooler will melt at even just a slightly higher temperature. When you see something in the ingredients using the term 'hydrogenated', that means it has (partially) become saturated.


What family is formaldehyde in?

Formaldehyde, H2C=O, is the basic member of organic compounds known as aldehydes. Aldehydes are hydrocarbons (chains of carbons with hydrogen attached) with an oxygen atom double-bonded to a carbon.


Is straight chain is more viscous than branched chain?

A straight chain hydrocarbon has two carbons that are bonded to only one other carbon (the terminal carbons). A branched chain hydrocarbon has more than two carbons that are bonded to only one other carbon (the terminal carbons at the ends of each branch). A cycloalkane (cyclic hydrocarbon) has no carbons that are bonded to only one carbon - the chain is hooked back to itself.


What is butyl made of?

Technically "butyl" is a substituent group of a parent chain on an organic molecule. Buytl consists of 4 carbons and 9 Hydrogens. If you draw this substituent out, you will notice that one of the carbons on the end does not fill its four bonds. This is because at this point the "butyl" substituent connects to the parent chain. If Butyl was in its "parent form" it would be called "butane." "Butane" looks like butyl but instead of the parent chain there would be another hydrogen in the parent chains place.


How many carbons atoms in a completed lipid?

It varies depending on the type of lipid, but most lipids contain around 12-24 carbon atoms. Lipids are made up of fatty acids, which are long chains of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.


What is a protein molecule with a smaller carbohydrate covalently bonded to it?

A glycoprotein is a protein molecule with one or more carbohydrate chains covalently bonded to it. Glycoproteins have roles in cell recognition, signaling, and adhesion.


What chemicals are presented in a candle?

Essentially it is parafin wax which is made of a group of chmeicals called alkanes with carbon chains in the order 20 to 40 carbons long and all fully saturated with hydrogen.


What are fats called at room temperature when they are solid?

Fats that are solid at room temperature are called saturated fats. These fats are typically found in animal products and some plant-based sources.


Groups of atoms bonded to carbon chains are known as?

Functional