Structure of Fatty Acids
Following are some of the aspects of the structure of fatty acids:
- They are made of hydrocarbon chains and the number of carbon atoms can vary from 4 to 24 atoms making the molecule short or long-chained.
- At one end of the chain, there is one carboxyl group (-COOH) attached.
- When the carbon and hydrogen of the chain are bound to each other by a single bond it forms a straight structure of the saturated fatty acids.
- When the carbon and hydrogen of the chain are bound to each other by double bonds it forms bends in the structure of the unsaturated fatty acids.
- Other than the carboxyl group some fatty acids may have other functional groups like hydroxyl group.
Overview on Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are organic compounds that fall under the category of lipids, which are essential biomacromolecules in the living system. The fatty acid types are saturated, unsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids play an important role in various physiological processes of the living organism, such as metabolism, formation, and maintenance of cell structure. In this article, we will study the structure, properties, function, and type of fatty acids in detail.
Table of Content
- Fatty Acids – Definition and Meaning
- Fatty Acids Formula
- Essential Fatty Acids
- Essential Fatty Acid Foods
- Properties of Fatty Acids
- Structure of Fatty Acids
- Types of Fatty Acids
- Length of Fatty Acids
- Circulation of Fatty Acids
- Fatty Acids Examples
- Functions of Fatty Acids