What Fat Has Only Single Bonds Between Carbon Atoms

Subject : Biology

Question:

Which fat has only single bonds between the carbon atoms in the fatty acid?

A. Saturated

B. Unsaturated

C. Polyunsaturated

D. Monounsaturated

Expert Verified Solution:

The correct answer is A: Saturated.

Saturated fats are characterized by having only single bonds between the carbon atoms in their fatty acid chains. This structure means that each carbon atom is fully “saturated” with hydrogen atoms. As a result, saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature. Examples include butter and animal fats.

In contrast, unsaturated fats contain one or more double bonds between carbon atoms. These can be further classified into monounsaturated fats (with one double bond) and polyunsaturated fats (with multiple double bonds). The presence of double bonds in unsaturated fats leads to kinks in the fatty acid chains, which generally makes them liquid at room temperature, such as in oils like olive oil and canola oil.