Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
unsaturated
adjective
/ˌʌnˈsætʃ.ə.reɪ.tɪd/
Definition
Referring to a chemical compound that does not contain the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms due to the presence of double or triple bonds between carbon atoms.
Examples
- Olive oil is an unsaturated fat, which is considered healthier than saturated fats.
- The unsaturated hydrocarbons in the compound reacted differently than their saturated counterparts.
- Many unsaturated compounds are important in various biological processes.
Meaning
In the context of organic chemistry, ‘unsaturated’ describes compounds, especially fats and oils, that have one or more double bonds, leading to fewer hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon chain.
Synonyms
- Incompletely saturated
- Unfilled
- Open-chain
