50: Single vs. Double Bonds in Lipids Animation Video
Transcript:
Single Versus Double Bonds in Lipids
Lipids include fats and oils and are the most energy-dense nutrients in the human diet. The structure of lipids includes chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The chains vary in both length and the types of bonds—or forces—that are holding the atoms together. A carbon atom requires four bonds to be happy.
When all four bonds on a carbon atom are filled (or saturated), these bonds are called single bonds. These lipids are referred to as saturated fats.
When carbons in a chain are saturated, the chain is straight. These straight chains stack neatly and form a fat that is solid at room temperature like butter.
When there are insufficient hydrogen atoms to form single bonds with the carbon atoms, the carbon atoms form double bonds with each other to satisfy their need for four bonds. Lipids with one or more double bonds are referred to as unsaturated fats.
The double bonds in unsaturated fats do not form straight chains that stack neatly. As a result, unsaturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature and called oils.