What is the structure of fatty acid?
Generally, a fatty acid consists of a straight chain of an even number of carbon atoms, with hydrogen atoms along the length of the chain and at one end of the chain and a carboxyl group (―COOH) at the other end. It is that carboxyl group that makes it an acid (carboxylic acid).
What shape are fatty acids?
The primary components of fatty acids are carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. When carbon atoms bond together, they form a single bond and can exhibit a zig-zag shape. When the overall molecule is seen, the entire fatty acid appears as a fairly straight line.
What is the structure of unsaturated fatty acids?
Unsaturated Fatty Acids Unsaturated fatty acid carbon chains contain one or more double bonds with a terminal carboxylic group (–COOH), unlike saturated fatty acids, which contain no double bonds. These fatty acids are subdivided into two groups depending on the number of double bonds.
What are the three parts of fatty acid?
Fatty acids are constructed from the chemical elements carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.
Where are fatty acids found?
Fatty acids: Molecules that are long chains of lipid-carboxylic acid found in fats and oils and in cell membranes as a component of phospholipids and glycolipids. (Carboxylic acid is an organic acid containing the functional group -COOH.) Fatty acids come from animal and vegetable fats and oils.
What is kink in fatty acid?
When the hydrocarbon chain contains a double bond, the fatty acid is said to be unsaturated. Oleic acid is an example of an unsaturated fatty acid. The cis double bond causes a bend or a “kink” that prevents the fatty acids from packing tightly, keeping them liquid at room temperature.
Which is example of fatty acids?
Examples would be fats, oils, cholesterols, and steroids. Fatty acids are in fact carboxylic acids with long aliphatic chain, which can be saturated (containing only C-C single bonds) or unsaturated (containing multiple bonds between carbon atoms). Examples of saturated fatty acids are Palmitic acid, stearic acid etc.
What is the structure of a fatty acid chain?
Fatty Acid Structure. Fatty acids are composed of carbon chains containing a methyl group at one end and a carboxyl group at the other. The methyl group is termed the omega (ω) and the carbon atom situated next to the carboxyl group is termed the “α” carbon, followed by the “β” carbon, etc.
What is the structure of saturated fatty acids?
Saturated fatty acids (SFA) are long-chain carboxylic acids characterized by the presence of carboxyl group. Their structure does not contain double bonds between the individual carbon atoms. SFA usually contain between 3 carbon atoms (propionic) and 36 carbon atoms (hexatriacontanoic).
What is the structure of a fat molecule?
All fats have a chemical structure that consists of long hydrocarbon chains, which is a series of carbon atoms bonded together and hydrogen atoms to stabilize the molecule by filling in the gaps.
What are examples of fatty acids?
Each fatty acid molecule has a carboxyl group attached with an aliphatic chain. Fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated. Examples of fatty acids are palmitate, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, etc.