Which of the following statements about saturated fatty acids is true?

• A. They have one or more $=$ double bonds in their carbon chain.
• B. They are typically liquid at room temperature.
• C. They contain only single bonds between carbon atoms ($-$ bonds).
• D. They are less stable than unsaturated fatty acids.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the structure of saturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids are composed of long hydrocarbon chains where all the carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds. This means there are no double bonds present in the chain.
2. Consider the physical properties of saturated fatty acids. Due to the presence of only single bonds, the hydrocarbon chains can pack closely together, resulting in a solid state at room temperature. This is in contrast to unsaturated fatty acids, which have kinks in their chains due to double bonds, making them typically liquid at room temperature.
3. Evaluate the stability of saturated versus unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids are generally more stable than unsaturated fatty acids because the single bonds are less reactive compared to the double bonds found in unsaturated fatty acids.
4. Review the given statements about saturated fatty acids: 1) They have one or more double bonds in their carbon chain. 2) They are typically liquid at room temperature. 3) They contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. 4) They are less stable than unsaturated fatty acids.
5. Identify the correct statement based on your understanding: Saturated fatty acids contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. This is the true statement among the options provided.