Fatty Acid A fatty acid is nothing more than a long C-H chain with a carboxyl group (COOH) on the end. The COOH gives it an acid property.

The human body is capable of synthesizing most fatty acids from carbohydrates or other fatty acids. Humans do not synthesize sufficient amounts of fatty acids that have more than one double bond. More than one double bond fatty acids are called essential fatty acids and they must be provided by the diet. Fatty acids

Glycerol Glycerol has 3 –OH groups, which are hydroxyl groups. This makes glycerol an alcohol.

To build one fat molecule, we combine 3 fatty acids with 1 glycerol + 3H 2 O This process is called esterification

What’s What?

Saturated and Unsaturated fats There are two kinds of fats: saturated and unsaturated Saturated fats have no double bonds (all C-C) Unsaturated fats have at least one double bond (C=C) in one of the fatty acids HOW DOES THIS AFFECT IMFs?

Intermolecular forces Solid fats are ________________ Liquid fats are _________________