Question

A gram of butter provides more energy than a gram of sugar because

• A. Butter is an animal product.
• B. Butter has more carbon-hydrogen bonds.
• C. Butter is more completely absorbed.
• D. Butter contains more ATP.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Butter has more carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Fat contains 9 kcal per gram, whereas carbohydrates and protein only contain 4 kcal per gram.

Triglycerides or fats are composed of one molecule of glycerol and joined via ester bonds with three molecules of fatty acids. Fatty acids are long chains of carbon and hydrogen usually between 14-24 carbons long. Due to the abundance of C and H, fatty acids are very hydrophobic and are not very soluble in water.

Fatty acids come in two major types, saturated and unsaturated. Saturated means that they have no double bonds. Unsaturated means that it contains double bonds. Generally, saturated fats (butter) have a high melting point so that they are a solid at room temperature. Unsaturated fats have a lower melting point and are a liquid at room temperature. Margarine is made by hydrogenating (adding H) to unsaturated vegetable oils increasing the amount of saturation and thus, the melting point (so it will be a solid).