What characteristic is noted about the melting temperature of elaidic acid?

Elaidic acid, which is a trans fatty acid and an isomer of oleic acid, exhibits distinct characteristics, particularly regarding its melting temperature. The correct information is that elaidic acid has a melting temperature significantly higher than 13 degrees Celsius, which is attributable to its trans configuration. This configuration enables tighter packing of the fatty acid chains compared to their cis counterparts, resulting in a higher melting temperature.

Most unsaturated fats tend to have lower melting temperatures due to the kinks introduced by cis double bonds that prevent tight packing in the solid state. However, the trans configuration of elaidic acid allows it to achieve a more linear structure similar to that of saturated fats, contributing to its elevated melting point. Therefore, stating that elaidic acid's melting temperature is significantly higher than 13 degrees Celsius accurately reflects its solid-state characteristics at room temperature and helps in understanding the behavior of trans fatty acids in biological systems.