Why are unsaturated fats preferred to saturated fats....?

1 Answer
Jun 26, 2017

Do you speak of the health benefits of unsaturated versus saturated fats......?

Explanation:

Let's consider a simple case, and examine combustion data for #"ethane"#, #"ethylene"#, and #"acetylene"#.

#C_2H_6(g) + 7/2O_2(g) rarr 2CO_2(g)+3H_2O(g)+Delta_1#

#Delta_1=-1561*kJ*mol^-1#

#H_2C=CH_2(g) + 3O_2(g) rarr 2CO_2(g)+2H_2O(g)+Delta_2#

#Delta_2=-1411*kJ*mol^-1#

#HC-=CH(g) + 5/2O_2(g) rarr 2CO_2(g)+H_2O(g)+Delta_3#

#Delta_3=-1300*kJ*mol^-1#

Saturation thus automatically means there is more energy to be realized upon #"combustion"#........(the difference is necessarily close to #DeltaH_f^@H_2O#). it follows that consumption of unsaturated fats are less calorific. There are possibly other health benefits as well.