IB Biology Topic B1.1.10 Difference Between Saturated, Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Biology Topic B1.1.10 Difference Between Saturated, Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Fatty Acid Structure: Chain Length and Saturation

All fatty acids share a common structure: a long hydrocarbon chain (a chain of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen) with a carboxyl group (-COOH) at one end.
These chains vary in two key ways: length and saturation.
1. Length: the number of carbon atoms in the chain, typically between 14 and 20 in biological systems.
2. Saturation: the number and position of C=C double bonds between carbon atoms.

Hint

Saturation refers to how many hydrogen atoms are bonded to the carbon chain.
A chain with no double bonds carries the maximum possible number of hydrogens, so it is fully saturated.

Categories of Fatty Acid Saturation

Saturated fatty acids: no double bonds. Every carbon atom is fully saturated with hydrogen atoms.
Unsaturated fatty acids: one or more double bonds between carbon atoms. These are split into two further groups.
1. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA): contain one double bond.
2. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA): contain two or more double bonds.

Saturated Fatty Acids: The Straight Chains

Properties of Saturated Fatty Acids

No double bonds: the chain is rigid and linear.
High melting point: straight chains pack tightly together, so more energy is needed to separate them.
1. This tight packing is why saturated fats are solid at room temperature.
Sources: found in animal fats such as butter and lard, and in some plant oils like coconut oil.

Example

Stearic acid: a saturated fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and no double bonds.

Biological Role of Saturated Fats

Saturated fats are ideal for long-term energy storage and thermal insulation in animals.
1. For example, whales rely on blubber, rich in saturated fatty acids, to retain heat in cold water.

Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

IB Biology Topic B1.1.10: Difference Between Saturated, Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Notes

Fatty Acid Structure: Chain Length and Saturation

Categories of Fatty Acid Saturation

Saturated Fatty Acids: The Straight Chains

Properties of Saturated Fatty Acids

Biological Role of Saturated Fats

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Fatty Acid Structure: Chain Length and Saturation

Categories of Fatty Acid Saturation

Saturated Fatty Acids: The Straight Chains

Properties of Saturated Fatty Acids

Biological Role of Saturated Fats

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

A - Unity and Diversity9 subtopics

B - Form and Function10 subtopics

C - Interaction and Interdependence9 subtopics

D - Continuity and Change12 subtopics

IB Biology Topic B1.1.10: Difference Between Saturated, Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Notes

Fatty Acid Structure: Chain Length and Saturation

Categories of Fatty Acid Saturation

Saturated Fatty Acids: The Straight Chains

Properties of Saturated Fatty Acids

Biological Role of Saturated Fats

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Fatty Acid Structure: Chain Length and Saturation

Categories of Fatty Acid Saturation

Saturated Fatty Acids: The Straight Chains

Properties of Saturated Fatty Acids

Biological Role of Saturated Fats

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

A - Unity and Diversity9 subtopics

B - Form and Function10 subtopics

C - Interaction and Interdependence9 subtopics

D - Continuity and Change12 subtopics