Question

what is the chemical difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

Answer 1

If i have it correct. There are double bonds between the Carbon atoms in the carbon chain (Unsaturated). Where in the Saturated there are no double bonds, and there is a single bond between the carbons in the chain and there would be no loss of hydrogen atoms.

Answer 2

Evo is right.

Answer 3

A saturated carbon chain has no double bonds (like evo said) and as a result the carbon atoms are not held as 'tightly' as they are in a saturated carbon chain (with the double bonds). As a result the saturated carbon chain is more reactive as it is easier to break the bonds between carbon atoms.

Answer 4

i though unsaturated fatty acids were more reactive? for example, butter turns rancid due to the breakdown of the the unsaturated fatty acid, but long saturated fatty acids occur in waxes and other stable substances...

Answer 5

Rats, going to have to get up to get the chemistry book. Well can't seem to find the answer right now but my logic was this: 1. Breaking bonds takes energy 2. Unsaturated hydrocarbons have more bonds so therefore the saturated chain would take less energy to react and therefore be more reactive. However I can't remember how the molecule interactions would change (ie. why butter would turn rancid and waxes etc).

Answer 6

Hmmm clearly I am forgetting something! You are correct, unsaturated hydrocarbons are more reactive. http://www.tutorvista.com/content/science/science-ii/carbon-compounds/saturated-unsaturated.php

Answer 7

Ah ok thanks for getting back to me on that one! I always remember that a double bond requires a molecular orbital to be unhybridized, which pretty much always means a higher energy, so less stable