Most fatty acids with double bonds are found in animals or plants? Are these fatty acids solid or liquid at room temperature?
To determine whether most fatty acids with double bonds are found in animals or plants, we can consider the types of fats that are more commonly found in each.
Saturated fats, which do not contain any double bonds, are mostly found in animal sources such as meat and dairy products. On the other hand, unsaturated fats, which contain one or more double bonds, are primarily found in plant-based sources such as nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. Therefore, it can be concluded that most fatty acids with double bonds are found in plants.
Now, let's discuss the state of these fatty acids at room temperature. The physical state of fatty acids largely depends on their degree of saturation. Saturated fats, lacking any double bonds, tend to be solid at room temperature. Examples of saturated fats include butter and animal fats.
Contrarily, unsaturated fats with double bonds have a lower melting point, resulting in them being mostly liquid at room temperature. This is due to the presence of the kinks or bends caused by the double bonds, which prevent the molecules from packing closely together. Common examples of unsaturated fats in liquid form include vegetable oils like olive oil and canola oil.
It is important to note that the degree of saturation and the melting point of fatty acids can vary. For instance, certain highly saturated fats derived from plants, such as coconut oil, can still be solid at room temperature due to their unique fatty acid composition.