Final answer:
Saturated fats have no double bonds and are solid at room temperature, typically originating from animal sources. Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds, are liquid at room temperature, and are found in plant oils and some fish.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing saturated and unsaturated fats, it's important to understand some key structural and physical differences between the two. Saturated fats have no double bonds between the carbon atoms in their fatty acid chains, meaning they are saturated with hydrogen atoms. As a result, saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature. Common sources of saturated fats include animal products and some tropical oils.
On the other hand, unsaturated fats have at least one double bond within the carbon chain of their fatty acid chains, which creates a kink that prevents the molecules from packing tightly together. These fats are generally liquid at room temperature. Monounsaturated fats have only one double bond, while polyunsaturated fats have multiple double bonds. Unsaturated fats are often found in plant-based foods and oils, as well as in fish like salmon.