What characteristic is true for saturated fatty acids compared to unsaturated fatty acids?

Saturated fatty acids are characterized by having no double bonds between their carbon atoms, which allows them to pack closely together in a straight chain formation. This tighter packing leads to stronger van der Waals forces between the molecules, resulting in a higher melting temperature compared to unsaturated fatty acids, which contain one or more double bonds that introduce kinks in their structure. These kinks prevent the molecules from packing as closely together, resulting in lower melting temperatures and more fluidity.

The higher melting temperature of saturated fatty acids makes them solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fatty acids, with their double bonds, tend to be liquid at room temperature due to their looser packing. Therefore, the correct statement highlights the relationship between the molecular structure of saturated fatty acids and their physical properties, specifically that they have a higher melting temperature and exhibit tighter packing compared to unsaturated fatty acids.