Certified Cheese Professional Practice Exam

Which type of fatty acid is typically solid at room temperature?

1. Unsaturated

2. Saturated

3. Trans

4. Polyunsaturated

The correct answer is: Saturated

Saturated fatty acids are typically solid at room temperature because their molecular structure is made up of carbon chains that are fully saturated with hydrogen atoms. This structure allows the fatty acid molecules to pack closely together, leading to a higher melting point and a solid state at room temperature. Saturated fats are commonly found in animal products such as meat, butter, and cheese, as well as certain plant oils like coconut oil. In contrast, unsaturated fatty acids, which include both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, have one or more double bonds in their chemical structure. This introduces kinks in the fatty acid chains, preventing them from packing tightly together and resulting in a liquid state at room temperature. Trans fats, while chemically altered to behave more like saturated fats, are not a naturally occurring type of fatty acid in significant quantities and do not primarily represent the properties of saturated fats. Thus, the correct identification of saturated fatty acids as solid at room temperature highlights the key structural characteristics that influence states of matter for different types of fatty acids.