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Fats are triglycerides that are insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, and are solid/semi-solid at room temperature. They are one of the three main macronutrients present in the human diet. Oils, on the other hand, are liquid at room temperature. The major difference between fats and oils are as follows:
- Fats are solid at room temperature whereas oils are found in the liquid state at room temperature.
- Fats increase cholesterol levels, but oils control it.
- Fats are either saturated or trans whereas oils are unsaturated.
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Fats, Oils, Saturated, Unsaturated, Glycerol, Acids, Trans fats, molecule, Fatty acids, organic solvents, hydroxyl (OH) groups, carbon, Food, Proteins, carbonyl group, Carbohydrates
What are Fats?
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Fats are triglycerides that are insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, and are solid/semi-solid at room temperature. Fats are composed of two main components: Fatty Acids and Glycerol. Glycerol is an alcohol having three hydroxyl (OH) groups. Fatty acids consist of a long carbon chain and a carbonyl group. The fatty acids get attached to the three hydroxyl groups and form an ester bond through the oxygen atom. This results in the formation of a fat molecule.
Fats are one of the three main macronutrients present in the human diet. The other two are Carbohydrates and Proteins. They are the main components of various food products such as milk, butter, tallow, lard, etc. Fats have multiple usages in the human body. They help in the storage of energy, thermal insulation, and waterproofing.
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What are Oils?
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Oils are non-polar chemical substances that are flammable, surface active, and insoluble in water. Unlike fats, they are liquid at room temperature. Oils contain hydrocarbons and they are lipophilic (mix well with oils). Oils are either animal, vegetable, or petrochemical in origin. Oils can be organic or mineral.
Oils have various uses such as the manufacturing of paints, plastics, crayons, etc., in food, as fuel, and in medicines.
Difference between Fats and Oils
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Following are some of the differences between Fats and Oils:
| Fats | Oils |
|---|---|
| They are derived from animals. | They are derived from plants. |
| High melting point | Low melting point |
| They are divided into saturated and trans fats. | They are divided into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. |
| They are solid at room temperature. | They are liquid at room temperature. |
| They are unhealthy for the body. | They are healthy for the body. |
| They increase bad cholesterol levels. | They increase good cholesterol levels. |
| Examples are butter, ground beef, milk, etc. | Examples are canola oil, olive oil, peanut butter, etc. |
Things to Remember
Following are some of the important points:
- Fats are triglycerides that are insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, and are solid/semi-solid at room temperature.
- Fats can be divided into three types: Saturated Fats, Unsaturated Fats and Trans Fats.
- In saturated fat, the fatty acid chains have single bonds. Trans fat is formed during the partial hydrogenation of unsaturated fats.
- Oils are non-polar chemical substances that are flammable, surface active, and insoluble in water. Unlike fats, they are liquid at room temperature.
- Unsaturated fats also belong to the category of oils. The fatty acid chains in unsaturated fats contain double bonds.
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| Enzymes | Galactose formula | Important Notes on Nucleic Acids |
| Hormones | Saturated and Unsaturated Fats | Peptide Bond |
Sample Questions
Ques: What are Fats? How are they formed? (2 Marks)
Ans: Fats are triglycerides that are insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, and are solid/semi-solid at room temperature. Fats are composed of two main components: Fatty Acids and Glycerol. Glycerol is an alcohol having three hydroxyl (OH) groups. Fatty acids consist of a long carbon chain and a carbonyl group. The fatty acids get attached to the three hydroxyl groups and form an ester bond through the oxygen atom. This results in the formation of a fat molecule.
Ques: What are Oils? (2 Marks)
Ans: Oils are non-polar chemical substances that are flammable, surface active, and insoluble in water. Unlike fats, they are liquid at room temperature. Oils contain hydrocarbons and they are lipophilic (mix well with oils). Oils are either animal, vegetable, or petrochemical in origin. Oils can be organic or mineral. Oils have various uses such as the manufacturing of paints, plastics, crayons, etc., in food, as fuel, and in medicines.
Ques: What are the types of fats? (3 Marks)
Ans: There are three types of fats:
- Saturated Fat: In saturated fat, the fatty acid chains have single bonds. Most animal fats are found to be saturated. Oils like coconut oil, palm oil, etc. also contain saturated oils. It is advised to minimise the intake of saturated fats as they increase cholesterol levels in the body which can result in serious health problems such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
- Trans Fat: Trans-fat is formed during the partial hydrogenation of unsaturated fats. It is found in animal fat, ground beef, butter, whole, milk, etc. Though they are edible, they should not be consumed in high quantities as they increase bad cholesterol levels.
- Unsaturated Fat: Unsaturated fats belong in the category of oils. The fatty acid chains in unsaturated fats contain double bonds. Unsaturated fats are better than saturated fats as they help in increasing good cholesterol levels.
Ques: What are Unsaturated Fats? (2 Marks)
Ans: Unsaturated fats belong in the category of oils. The fatty acid chains in unsaturated fats contain double bonds. Unsaturated fats are better than saturated fats as they help in increasing good cholesterol levels. They also contribute to healthy brain functioning. Unsaturated fats are found in food items like avocado, nuts, canola oil, olive oil, etc.
Ques: What are the types of Unsaturated Fats? (2 Marks)
Ans: There are two types of unsaturated fats:
- Monounsaturated: Unsaturated fats with one double bond. Examples are peanut butter, avocados, olives, cashews, etc.
- Polyunsaturated: Unsaturated fats with more than one double bond. Examples are sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, corn oil, walnuts, etc.
Ques: Differentiate between fats and oils based on their source, state, and effects on human health. (3 Marks)
Ans: Some differences are as follows:
- Source: Fats are derived from animals whereas oils are generally derived from plants.
- State: Fats and oils are solid and liquid at room temperature respectively.
- Effects on Human Health: Fats are unhealthy for the body as they increase bad cholesterol levels. On the other hand, oils are good for human health as they increase good cholesterol levels.
Ques: Out of fats and oils, which one has a higher melting point? (2 Marks)
Ans: Out of fats and oils, Fats have a higher melting point than oils because they are more saturated. In saturated fat, the fatty acid chains have single bonds. Most animal fats are found to be saturated.
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