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What is the formula for a saturated fat?

Published in Saturated Fat Chemistry 1 min read

The general chemical formula for a saturated fat, specifically a saturated fatty acid, is C n H 2 n O 2.

Understanding the Formula for Saturated Fatty Acids

This formula represents the molecular composition of a saturated fatty acid, where:

  • C stands for Carbon
  • H stands for Hydrogen
  • O stands for Oxygen
  • n represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. This value varies depending on the specific saturated fatty acid.

Saturated fatty acids are characterized by their unique structure:

  • They are chains of carbon atoms.
  • Every carbon atom in the chain is singly bonded to other carbon atoms and to the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms.
  • This means there are no double bonds between any carbon atoms in the chain. This lack of double bonds is why they are called "saturated"—they are "saturated" with hydrogen atoms.

This fully saturated structure results in straight, flexible carbon chains, which allows them to pack tightly together, contributing to their solid state at room temperature.