Which category contains fatty acids with at least one double bond?

Which category contains fatty acids with at least one double bond?

• A. Saturated
• B. Trans fatty acids
• C. Short-chain fatty acids
• D. Unsaturated

Answer: (D)

Double bonds in the fatty acid chain define unsaturation. A fatty acid is unsaturated whenever there is at least one double bond between carbons; those double bonds cause kinks that prevent tight packing, making the molecule more fluid at room temperature. Saturated fatty acids have only single bonds and no double bonds. Short-chain refers to chain length, not bond saturation. Trans fatty acids are a specific subset of unsaturated fats with the double bond in the trans configuration, but the broad category that includes any fatty acid with one or more double bonds is unsaturated.

Double bonds in the fatty acid chain define unsaturation. A fatty acid is unsaturated whenever there is at least one double bond between carbons; those double bonds cause kinks that prevent tight packing, making the molecule more fluid at room temperature. Saturated fatty acids have only single bonds and no double bonds. Short-chain refers to chain length, not bond saturation. Trans fatty acids are a specific subset of unsaturated fats with the double bond in the trans configuration, but the broad category that includes any fatty acid with one or more double bonds is unsaturated.