Which of the Following is a Characteristic of Fatty Acids

Question

Which of the following is a characteristic of fatty acids?
A) Most fatty acids have an odd number of carbon atoms.
B) Trans isomers of unsaturated fatty acids are common.
C) Unsaturated fatty acids have lower melting points than saturated fatty acids.
D) None of these are a characteristic of fatty acids.

Accepted Answer

Unsaturated fatty acids have kinks in their hydrocarbon chains due to the presence of double bonds. This prevents the molecules from packing tightly together, resulting in lower melting points compared to saturated fatty acids, which have straight chains and pack tightly together. Option A is incorrect, as most fatty acids have an even number of carbon atoms. Option B is incorrect, as trans isomers of unsaturated fatty acids are relatively rare in nature.