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Multiple Choice
Which type of fat is typically solid at room temperature?
A
Unsaturated fat
B
Saturated fat
C
Trans fat
D
Polyunsaturated fat
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structural differences between saturated and unsaturated fats. Saturated fats have no double bonds between carbon atoms, while unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds.
Recognize that the presence of double bonds in unsaturated fats causes kinks in the fatty acid chains, preventing them from packing closely together, which typically results in a liquid state at room temperature.
Identify that saturated fats, lacking double bonds, have straight chains that can pack tightly together, making them solid at room temperature.
Consider the role of trans fats, which are unsaturated fats that have been chemically altered to have a more linear structure, allowing them to be solid at room temperature.
Polyunsaturated fats contain multiple double bonds, leading to even more kinks in the structure, making them less likely to be solid at room temperature compared to saturated fats.