Answer
Triglycerides are the most common type of lipids in the body. A triglyceride molecule comprises a three carbon backbone with three fatty acid chains,--each chain is attached to one carbon of the glycerol backbone. If a triglyceride is solid at room temperature, it is called a fat. A fat may be saturated,or unsaturated. In a saturated fat all the carbon atoms of the fatty acid chains are saturated with hydrogen. Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds between the carbon atoms.
Work Step by Step
Saturated fats have no double bonds --all the carbon atoms in the fatty acid chains are saturated with hydrogen atoms Examples of saturated fatty acids are lauric acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. Examples of monounsaturated acids are oleic acid and palmitoleic acids--they have just one double band in a fatty acid chain. Polyunsaturated fats have more than one double bond in fatty acid chains. Examples of polyunsaturated acids are alpha linolenic acid (3 double bonds), and eicosapentaenoic acid ( 5 double bonds).
Coconut oil and butter have high percentages of saturated fats. Olive oil and canola oil are rich in oleic acid; ;peanut butter and olive oil have high levels of linoleic acid; sunflower seeds and walnuts are rich in alpha linolenic acid.
