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Fatty Acids definitions

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  • Fatty Acid
    Hydrocarbon chain with a terminal carboxylic acid group, serving as a building block for complex lipids.
  • Hydrocarbon Chain
    Linear or branched sequence of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen, forming the backbone of fatty acids.
  • Carboxylic Acid
    Functional group at the end of fatty acid chains, consisting of a carbon double-bonded to oxygen and single-bonded to hydroxyl.
  • Saturated Fatty Acid
    Type of fatty acid with only carbon-carbon single bonds, fully saturated with hydrogen, and solid at room temperature.
  • Unsaturated Fatty Acid
    Type of fatty acid containing one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, usually in cis conformation, and liquid at room temperature.
  • Monounsaturated Fatty Acid
    Unsaturated fatty acid with a single carbon-carbon double bond, causing a kink in its structure.
  • Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid
    Unsaturated fatty acid with multiple carbon-carbon double bonds, resulting in several kinks and lower melting point.
  • Cis Conformation
    Arrangement of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids that creates kinks, preventing tight packing.
  • Melting Point
    Temperature at which a fatty acid transitions from solid to liquid, influenced by chain length and saturation.
  • Hydrophobic Interaction
    Nonpolar association between fatty acid chains, affecting their packing and melting point.
  • Alpha Carbon
    Carbon atom adjacent to the carboxyl carbon in a fatty acid chain, designated by the Greek letter alpha.
  • Omega Carbon
    Carbon atom furthest from the carboxyl carbon in a fatty acid chain, designated by the Greek letter omega.
  • Glycerolipid
    Complex lipid formed from fatty acids and glycerol, serving structural and energy storage roles.
  • Stearate
    Common saturated fatty acid found in animals, notable for its high melting point and solid state at room temperature.
  • Oleate
    Monounsaturated fatty acid with a single cis double bond, resulting in a kink and lower melting point.