The melting point of a fat is dependant on
A)degree of saturation of the fatty acids.
B)length of the fatty acids.
C)cis-trans configuration.
D)crystalline structure.
E)all of the above answers are correct

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of the factors listed (degree of saturation, length of fatty acids, cis-trans configuration, and crystalline structure) can influence the melting point of a fat. Therefore, the best answer is E. The melting point of a fat is dependent on all of the factors listed. The degree of saturation affects the number of double bonds in the fatty acid chain, which affects the space between the fatty acid chains and the strength of the Van der Waals forces holding them together, thereby affecting the melting point. The length of the fatty acid affects the surface area of the chains, also affecting the Van der Waals forces holding them together. The cis-trans configuration affects the shape of the fatty acid chain, which affects the packing of adjacent fatty acid chains and, therefore, the melting point. Finally, the crystalline structure of the fat affects the alignment of adjacent fatty acid chains and the strength of the Van der Waals forces, which affects the melting point. Therefore, all of the above answers are correct.

The Melting Point of a Fat Is Dependant on