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How do oleic acid and linoleic acid differ in their number of double bonds?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
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Oleic acid and linoleic acid differ in their degree of unsaturation, which is determined by the number of carbon-carbon double bonds present in their molecular structures:

  • Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid, meaning it contains exactly one double bond in its hydrocarbon chain.123
  • Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, meaning it contains two double bonds in its hydrocarbon chain.13

Both are 18-carbon fatty acids, but the presence of the additional double bond in linoleic acid contributes to its classification as a polyunsaturated fat and results in a lower melting point compared to oleic acid.134