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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a distinguishing characteristic of a saturated fatty acid?
A
It contains no double bonds between carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain.
B
It is always liquid at room temperature.
C
It has one or more cis double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain.
D
It contains a carboxyl group at both ends of the molecule.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the structure of a saturated fatty acid. Saturated fatty acids are characterized by having no double bonds between the carbon atoms in their hydrocarbon chain. This means all the carbon atoms are fully 'saturated' with hydrogen atoms.
Step 2: Compare this characteristic with the options provided. The first option states that saturated fatty acids contain no double bonds between carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain, which aligns with the definition of a saturated fatty acid.
Step 3: Evaluate the second option, which states that saturated fatty acids are always liquid at room temperature. This is incorrect because saturated fatty acids are typically solid at room temperature due to their straight-chain structure, which allows tight packing.
Step 4: Analyze the third option, which mentions cis double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain. This is a characteristic of unsaturated fatty acids, not saturated fatty acids, as saturated fatty acids lack double bonds entirely.
Step 5: Review the fourth option, which claims that saturated fatty acids contain a carboxyl group at both ends of the molecule. This is incorrect because fatty acids, whether saturated or unsaturated, have a single carboxyl group at one end and a hydrocarbon chain extending from it.