Differences between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids

Differences between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are:

Saturated fatty acids

* The hydrocarbon chain without double bond.

* Usually straight chains

* Solid at room temperature.

* Relatively higher melting point.

* Occurrence in most animal fats.

* More abundant in fat storage cells or adipocytes of animal and less in non-storage

* Hydrogenation has no effect

* Increase the blood cholesterol in human beings, gets deposited on inner wall of artery (arteriosclerosis)

Unsaturated fatty acids

* Possess one to more double bonds in their hydrocarbon chain.

* Chains bent at the double Bonds

* Liquid at room temperature.

* Relatively lower melting point.

* Occur in most plant cells.

* More abundant in non-storage living cells, in elaioplast of plant cells and less in storage cells and also in adipocytes of cold blooded (poikilothermic) animals.

* Hydrogenation converts them into Saturated state.

* Lower the blood cholesterol in human beings