Tag: biological molecule

Unsaturated fatty acid is those which contain one or more double bond in their fatty acids. Generally, it is found in plants fats. It also lowers blood cholesterol. Linoleic is unsaturated fatty acid containing two double bonds. Sunflower oil contains highest linoleic acid. Thus, the correct answer is A.

Fat is stored reserve for the body which provides energy. These are triesters of glycerol. It is obtained from fatty acids and glycerol. It consists of one glycerol molecule and three fatty acid molecules. The carboxyl end of the fatty acid combines with the three -OH groups of the glycerol to form the ester. So, the correct answer is option B.

Fatty acids are of two types, the saturated fatty acids that have single bond across the carbon chain and the unsaturated fatty acids that have one or more double bond across the carbon chain. When there are more than one double bonds, they are called the polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are called the essential fatty acids as they cannot be synthesized in the body and must be supplied through the external source. Linoleic acid and linolenic acid are the essential fatty acids.

An unsaturated fat is a fat or fatty acid in which there is one or more double bond in the fatty acid chain. A fat molecule is monounsaturated if it contains one double bond, and polyunsaturated if it contains more than one double bond. Where double bonds are formed, hydrogen atoms are eliminated.

Arachidonic acid is not one of the essential fatty acids. Rather it is conditionally essential fatty acid which, becomes essential if its precursor, linoleic acid is deficient thereby resulting in the inability to convert linoleic acid to arachidonic acid. However, some mammals lack the ability or have a very limited capacity to convert linoleic acid to arachidonic acid, making it an essential part of their diets. So, the correct answer is 'Arachidonic acid'.