Fatty Acid Definitions

Question 1

fatty acid

Answer 1

• Contain a long carbon chain with an even number of carbons
• Have a carboxylic acid at one end (-COOH)
• Belong to the lipid class of biomolecules

Question 2

saturated fatty acid

Answer 2

• fatty acid with no C=C bonds

Question 3

unsaturated fatty acid

Answer 3

• fatty acid with at least one C=C bond

Question 4

monounsaturated fatty acid

Answer 4

• fatty acid with exactly one C=C bond

Question 5

polyunsaturated fatty acid

Answer 5

• fatty acid with more than one C=C bond

Question 6

essential fatty acid

Answer 6

• Cannot be produced by the body
• Must be obtained from the diet
• Include poly unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic and a-linoleic acid

Question 7

trans fatty acid

Answer 7

• fatty acid containing at least one trans C=C bond

Question 8

omega-3 fatty acid

Answer 8

• family of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids where the first double bond begins 3 carbons away from the “tail” (the end farthest from -COOH)

Question 9

omega-6 fatty acid

Answer 9

• family of fatty acids where the first double bond begins 6 carbons away from the “tail” (the end farthest from -COOH)