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Ch.23 - Organic and Biological Chemistry
All textbooksMcMurry 8th EditionCh.23 - Organic and Biological ChemistryProblem 86
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Chapter 23, Problem 86

What is a fatty acid?

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1
Step 1: Understand that a fatty acid is a type of lipid, which is a large group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, and fat-soluble vitamins.
Step 2: Recognize that fatty acids are composed of long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) at one end.
Step 3: Note that the hydrocarbon chain can vary in length and can be either saturated (no double bonds between carbon atoms) or unsaturated (one or more double bonds).
Step 4: Learn that saturated fatty acids have straight chains, allowing them to pack closely together, which makes them solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fatty acids have kinks in their chains due to double bonds, making them liquid at room temperature.
Step 5: Understand that fatty acids are important in biology as they are key components of lipids, which are essential for building cell membranes and storing energy.
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