What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

The difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is the number of double bonds in the carbon chain. Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds, while unsaturated fatty acids have at least one double bond.

This difference in structure has a number of implications for the properties and health effects of saturated and unsaturated fats.

Saturated fatty acids are typically solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fatty acids are typically liquid at room temperature. This is because the double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids create kinks in the carbon chain, which prevents the molecules from packing together tightly.

Saturated fatty acids are also more likely to raise cholesterol levels in the blood than unsaturated fatty acids. This is because saturated fatty acids are more likely to be incorporated into LDL lipoprotein, which is known as the "bad" cholesterol.

In general, unsaturated fatty acids are considered to be healthier than saturated fatty acids. This is because unsaturated fatty acids can help to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.