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Ch. 23 Nutrition and Metabolism

Chapter 23, Problem 23.20a

Which of the following statements is false?


a. Fiber is a polysaccharide that is completely or partially indigestible by the human body.

b. A complete protein contains all the essential amino acids.

c. Saturated fats contain hydrogen atoms arranged on opposite sides of the carbon-carbon double bond.

d. Linoleic and linolenic acid are essential fatty acids.

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Hi, everyone. Welcome back. Here's the next problem. Identify which of the following statements is true. And then we have five possible answers. Four of which A through D are statements that may or may not be true. And choice E is all of the above. So we'll look at each of these statements one at a time, remembering that we might have all of them being true. So, Choise says fatty acids are composed of a hydrocarbon chain with a carbon group at one end. Well, this statement is incorrect because they do not have a carbonyl group at the end, they have a carboxyl group. That's that coo H group. And this is important because this is what makes them fatty acids. Since this group makes a carboxylic acid, a carbon group is just ac double bonded with an O and is not acidic. So choice A is incorrect. So that means we can also rule out choice E all of the above. Since we already have one false answer. Choice B says the fatty acid chains of saturated fats have multiple bonds between carbon atoms. Well, this one is also incorrect. The fatty acid chains that have multiple bonds between carbon atoms are not saturated but unsaturated. Saturated means you have as many hydrogens as possible attached to your carbons. So saturated fats means that all of the carbon carbon bonds are single bonds. So we can cross out Choice B and then choice C says proteins are micronutrients composed of long chains of amino acids. Well, proteins are composed of long chains of amino acids, but they are not micronutrients. They are macronutrients. They are essential to the body and they are needed in large amounts to be taken in in food. Micronutrients are things like vitamins and minerals that are essential to your body's functioning but only needed in very small amounts. So choice c also incorrect. Well, now we're just down to one answer. Choice D and we look at it and it says fibers are a type of carbohydrate found in plant based food. And unsurprisingly this is correct. Fibers are long chains of sugar molecules that cannot be digested or absorbed by the human body. Since they can't be digested by the human body, they pass intact through the digestive system. But that is our true statement. Choice. D fibers are a type of carbohydrate found in plant based food. See you in the next video.