Fundamentals of Biochemistry Quiz Buster 4

1. What determines the melting point of fatty acids?

• Chain length of the fatty acid 

• Degree of saturation (number of double bonds) 

• Cis or trans configuration of double bonds 

• Presence of functional groups (e.g., hydroxyl, carboxyl) 

• All of the above

Which of the following is a characteristic of trans fatty acids? 

• They have a lower melting point compared to cis fatty acids. 

• They are primarily found in whole, natural foods. 

• They have a bent structure similar to cis fatty acids. 

• They contain fewer hydrogen atoms than saturated fatty acids. 

• None of the above.

In omega (ω) nomenclature, the ω-number indicates the position of the first double bond from the ___ of the fatty acid chain? 

• carboxyl end 

• last double bond

• methyl (CH₃) end 

• middle of the chain 

• hydroxyl (OH) end 

1. What is the primary structural difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

• Length of the carbon chain

• Presence of double bonds

• Presence of a carboxyl group

• Presence of hydroxyl groups

• Number of carbon atoms

1. Cis fatty acids are typically:

• Linear in structure

• Bent or kinked at the double bond

• Solid at room temperature

• Saturated

• None of the above

1. In the delta (Δ) nomenclature system, how is the position of double bonds indicated?

• From the methyl end

• From the carboxyl end

• By the total number of carbon atoms

• By the number of hydrogen atoms

• By the position of the last double bond 

1. Which fatty acid has a lower melting point, assuming the same number of carbon atoms?

• Saturated fatty acid

• Trans monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) 

• Cis monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) 

• Cis polyunsaturate fatty acid (PUFA) 

• Fully hydrogenated fatty acid 

Choose the answer that best explains why monounsaturated trans fatty acids have a higher melting point than monounsaturated cis fatty acids of the same length. 

• Trans fatty acids have a more bent structure than cis fatty acids. 

• Trans fatty acids can pack more tightly together due to their linear structure. 

• Trans fatty acids contain fewer hydrogen atoms than cis fatty acids. 

• Trans fatty acids are less stable than cis fatty acids.  

• Trans fatty acids are more likely to form hydrogen bonds than cis fatty acids. 

Which of the following is an example of the most common saturated fatty acid found in animal cells? 

• Oleic acid

• Linoleic acid

• Palmitic acid

• Stearic acid

• Myristic acid

1. The term 'free fatty acid' refers to:

• Fatty acids bound to glycerol

• Fatty acids in their unesterified form

• Fatty acids that are saturated

• Fatty acids that contain trans double bonds

• Fatty acids found only in animal sources