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Which factor causes the shapes of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids to differ?

A. Number of oxygen atoms attached to each carbon atom
B. Number of single covalent bonds between carbon atoms
C. Number of double covalent bonds between carbon atoms
D. Number of carbon atoms in the carbon chain

User Bastelflp
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The answer is option C. Number of double covalent bonds between carbon atoms is responsible for causing different shapes of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The double covalent bond causes kink in the unsaturated fatty acids because of which their stacking is disrupted and they become loosely packed. The problem with double covalent bond is that unlike single covalent bond it can't rotate and has almost cis-configuration. This is also the reason behind their liquidity at room temperature.

User Nidhish Krishnan
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