Question

For fatty acids with the same number of carbon atoms, how does the melting point change as the number of double bonds in the fatty acid changes?

a. The melting point of the fatty acid decreases as the number of double bonds increases.
b. There is no relationship between the melting point of a fatty acid and the number of double bonds.
c. The melting point of the fatty acid is unchanged as the number of double bonds changes.
d. The melting point of the fatty acid decreases as the number of double bonds decreases.

Answer 1

The answer is a. "The melting point of the fatty acid decreases as the number of double bonds increases" because when there are double bonded carbons it cancels the polarity of the carboxyl in the opposite direction, increasing that effect as double bonded carbons add to the molecule, giving the net dipole moment to the molecule. As the net dipole moment of the molecule decrease, the melting point of the fatty acid also decreases.

In addition, when the fatty acid is major than 8 carbons and have a double bond that prevents the fatty acid from crystal lattice formation, so the melting point will be lower also for this reason in this case.