Chapter 23, Problem 7RQ

What makes a saturated fat saturated?

To determine

The character which is responsible for the saturation of saturated fats.

Answer to Problem 7RQ

The presence of single covalent bond in a fat molecule makes it saturated.

Explanation of Solution

The saturated organic compounds are those which are composed of sufficient number of hydrogen atoms in such a way that there is not any multiple bond present in them. The absence of multiple bonds in such kind of organic compounds makes then a saturated compound.

Thus, in the saturated fat molecules, the hydrogen atoms are bonded by single covalent bond with each carbon atom as the results of this, the whole fat molecule is considered as a saturated.

Conclusion:

The nature of bond between the carbon atom and the carbon and hydrogen atom in a saturated fat molecule is single covalent bond. This makes the saturated fat saturated.