Fatty acid

Fatty acids are one of the phospholipid components, the basic molecules of every cell membrane. These are long chains of –CH2 ending with a carboxylic group (-COOH). They are referred to as saturated when the carbon atoms of the chain are bonded to at least two atoms of hydrogen. If, on the other hand, two carbon atoms are bonded together, they are referred to as unsaturated. If carbon atoms are bonded together more than once, they are referred to as polyunsaturated.