Final answer:
The statement that hydrogenation creates unsaturated fatty acids known as trans fat is true. Hydrogenation can result in both saturated and trans fats, and the process involves converting some double bonds from a cis to a trans configuration, affecting heart health by raising bad cholesterol (LDL) levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the process of hydrogenation creates unsaturated fatty acids called trans fat is True. Hydrogenation includes adding hydrogen to the carbon-carbon double bonds of unsaturated fats, which can result in the production of both saturated and trans fatty acids. Trans fats have an unusual linear shape thanks to the hydrogen atoms being bonded on opposite sides of the carbon chain, leading to a configuration that is not typically found in nature. This configuration makes trans fats behave similarly to saturated fats in the body, often raising levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL, known as 'bad cholesterol').
Figure 2.19 illustrates how during the hydrogenation process, the orientation around the double bonds changes, creating a trans-fat from a cis-fat. This is significant because trans fatty acids, formed through partial hydrogenation, can increase the level of LDL in the body and decrease the level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL, known as 'good cholesterol'), thereby influencing cardiovascular health. In contrast, natural cis fatty acids are more bent and usually do not have the same health implications.