Yes, fatty acids can be hydrogenated.
What Are Hydrogenated Fats?
Hydrogenation is a chemical process applied to fatty acids. According to the provided information, "Hydrogenated fats are fatty acids that have been chemically altered." This means that when we refer to "hydrogenated fats," we are talking about fatty acids that have undergone this specific chemical change.
The Process Explained
The primary purpose of hydrogenating fatty acids is to change their physical state. As the reference states, "In general, hydrogenated fats were oils whose chemical structures were changed to become solid fats." Oils typically contain a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids and are liquid at room temperature. Hydrogenation makes them more solid or semi-solid.
The Role of Double Bonds
The difference in physical state between liquid oils and solid fats is often related to the presence of double bonds within the fatty acid chains. The reference highlights this distinction:
- Unsaturated fats: These fatty acids have double bonds between carbon atoms. The presence of these double bonds often results in fats being liquid at room temperature (like oils).
- Saturated fats: These fatty acids do not have double bonds between carbon atoms. They tend to be solid or semi-solid at room temperature.
Hydrogenation is a process that adds hydrogen atoms to the double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids, effectively converting them into saturated fatty acids or reducing the number of double bonds. This alteration changes the fatty acid's properties, leading to a higher melting point and a more solid consistency.
In summary, the term "hydrogenated fats" directly refers to fatty acids that have been chemically modified through the process of hydrogenation.
