Define an unsaturated fatty acid. Provide one example of an unsaturated fatty acia.

Unsaturated fatty acids are fatty acid chains joined by double bonds.

Explanation:

Depending upon the number of double bonds, they are classified as mono or polyunsaturated fatty acids.

An unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) can turn rancid by the action of water, oxygen, metallic atoms, or microbes. The rancidity or lipid peroxidation of a UFA depends upon the degree of its unsaturation and can be prevented with antioxidants.

At room temperature, UFA remains at liquid state. Many natural foods like avocado, canola, olive, nuts, meat etc contain UFA.

Example of unsaturated fatty acid

Monounsaturated fatty acid: Oleic acid

Polyunsaturated fatty acid: Linoleic acid

Unsaturated fatty acids can be described as those fatty acids which exist as liquid at room temperature. Unsaturated fatty acids have atleast on double bond in their fatty acid chains. On the other hand, saturated fatty acids do not have any double bond present in their fatty acid chain.

The unsaturated fatty acids which contain one double bond are termed as Monounsaturated fats while those containing more than one double bonds are termed as Polyunsaturated fats.

Examples include Oleic acid which is a monounsaturated fatty acid.

Linoleic acid is an example of polyunsaturated fats.