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Definition

noun, plural: fatty acids

1) Any of the group of a long chain of hydrocarbon derived from the breakdown of fats (through a process called hydrolysis). It has a single carboxylic group and aliphatic tail.

2) sub-units of fats, oils and waxes

Supplement

R-COOH, where R stands for the aliphatic moiety and COOH as the carboxylic group (making the molecule an acid).

Fatty acids can be classified into two major groups depending on the nature of covalent bond:

• unsaturated fatty acid (e.g. monounsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fat, omega fatty acids, etc.)
• saturated fatty acid (e.g. lauric acid, palmitic acid, etc.)

Related form(s):

• Volatile fatty acid number
• Unesterified free fatty acid
• Saturated fatty acid
• Fatty acid methyltransferase
• Fatty acid oxidation cycle
• Fatty acid reductase

Mentioned in:

• Lipid
• Cholesterol ester
• Oleic acid