Lesson 2: Fatty Acids

Fatty acids

These lipids are composed of a carboxyl group and a hydrocarbon chain – this is also known as the R group.

The hydrocarbon chain can either saturated or unsaturated.

An unsaturated hydrocarbon chain means that it has at least one double bond – these tend to be liquids at room temperature.

Saturated, on the other hand means that the chain does not contain any double bonds.