An unsaturated fat is a fat that contains a
carbon-carbon double bond, or a fat containing unsaturated
fatty acids; such fatty acids have double or triple
covalent bonds and are thus able to add more atoms. Unsaturated fats are believed to lower blood
cholesterol levels and are found at high levels in vegetable oils (
olive oil,
safflower oil, etc.)
As a general rule, unsaturated fats are
liquid at room temperature.
From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.