Explain process of Fatty acid composition
We know fats/oils are made up of fatty acids. The number, position and geometry of double bonds within the fatty acids affect the rate of oxidation. Relative rates of oxidation for arachidonic, linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids are approximately 40:20:10:1, respectively. Cis acids oxidize more than their trans-isomers, and conjugated double bonds are more reactive than nonconjugated. Autoxidation of saturated fatty acids is extremely slow. At room temperature, they remain practically unchanged when oxidative rancidity of unsaturates becomes detectable. At high temperatures, however, saturated acids can undergo oxidation at significant rates.