unsaturated
adj.describing a chemical compound that has double or triple bonds between its atoms. These bonds make the molecule more reactive than a similar one with only single bonds.
adj.describing a chemical compound that contains at least one double or triple bond between carbon atoms. Often used in organic chemistry to distinguish from saturated compounds, which have only single bonds.
“Olive oil contains many unsaturated fats.”
“The chemist tested the sample to determine if the hydrocarbon was unsaturated, which would indicate the presence of double bonds.”
“In industrial catalysis, unsaturated hydrocarbons are often preferred because their multiple bonds provide more reactive sites for the formation of complex polymers and plastics.”
“Except for red, the hues in nature are overwhelmingly unsaturated: Pale blue skies and light yellow-green vegetation contrast with the more saturated red hues in tree trunks, rocks and soil.”
“Current dietary guidance generally recommends keeping saturated fat below 10% of daily calories and choosing unsaturated fats when possible.”
From un- + saturated.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.