Final answer:
A fatty acid with one spot for hydrogen addition is a monounsaturated fatty acid, characterized by having one double bond within its carbon chain. Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds, while polyunsaturated have two or more. Stearic acid is an example of a saturated fatty acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
A fatty acid that has one spot on its carbon chain where a hydrogen can be added is referred to as a monounsaturated fatty acid. Fatty acids are simple lipid molecules that consist mainly of chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. When the hydrocarbon chain of a fatty acid contains only single bonds between neighboring carbons, the fatty acid is referred to as saturated, meaning it is saturated with hydrogen. However, if the chain contains a double bond, the fatty acid is unsaturated. An unsaturated fatty acid with one double bond is called monounsaturated, while one with two or more double bonds is called polyunsaturated.
Stearic acid is an example of a saturated fatty acid, showcasing a chain of carbon atoms fully bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms since all the bonds between the carbon atoms are single bonds. Alternatively, unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid have one or more points where hydrogen atoms are missing because of the presence of double bonds. These points of unsaturation indicate where the hydrogen atoms can be additionally bonded to the carbon chain.Trans fats are a type of unsaturated fats that may pose health risks, and they also have one or more double bonds. However, their hydrogen atoms are on opposite sides of the carbon chain, which makes their structure more similar to that of saturated fatty acids, being straight and able to pack tightly together.