97.6k views
3 votes
why do saturated fatty acids have straight structures, while unsaturated fatty acids have bent structures?

User Shevaun
by
5.9k points

1 Answer

3 votes
Saturated fatty acids are chains of single bonded carbons surrounded by hydrogen atoms.

Unsaturated fatty acids have bent structures due to double bonding between carbon atoms in the chain. When carbons create double bonds with each other they are no longer able to hold as many hydrogens as a saturated fatty acid
User Aetrnm
by
6.2k points