what are the differences between a fat and an oil
Fats and oils both comes under the class of molecules called lipids (non-polar biological molecule insoluble in water). Fats and oils are simple lipids that is both are formed by esters of fatty acids with glycerol (a glycerol molecule linked by ester bonds to 3 fatty acids). Both are same chemically. The major differences are: 1) fats are solid at room temperature where oils are liquid at room temperature 2) fats are more saturated (more number of single bonds between its carbon atoms) compared to oils 3) fats are generally an animal product where as oils are often a plant derived product.