Answer to Question #94965 in Biochemistry for Kylie

Question

Explain how length and degree of saturation of fatty acids influence their
physical and physiological properties.

Answer 1

Physical properties:

The melting point is higher when chain of fatty acid is longer or acid is saturated.

The viscosity is higher when the degree of saturation is lower and the chain is longer.

The solubility of fats in organic solvents decreases with increasing of chain length and degree of saturation.

Long chain fatty acids are insoluble in water while short chains dissolve in water very quickly changing its pH.

Unsaturated fatty acids undergo oxidation more rapidly than saturated.

Physiological properties

Short chained acids are absorbed immediately directly into blood stream from intestine. Long chained fatty acids can’t be directly absorbed into capillaries..

Unlike saturated fatty acids unsaturated can’t be synthesized inside human organism.