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IUPAC name: Octadecanoic acid
Linear Formula: CH3(CH2)16COOH
CAS Number: 57-11-4
Molecular Weight: 284.48
Beilstein: 608585
EC Number: 200-313-4
MDL number: MFCD00002752
PubChem Substance ID: 329752887
APPLICATIONS
In general, the applications of stearic acid exploit its bifunctional character, with a polar head group that can be attached to metal cations and a nonpolar chain that confers solubility in organic solvents.
The combination leads to uses as a surfactant and softening agent.
Stearic acid undergoes the typical reactions of saturated carboxylic acids, a notable one being reduction to stearyl alcohol, and esterification with a range of alcohols.
This is used in a large range of manufactures, from simple to complex electronic devices.
Stearic acid is widely used in cosmetics, plastic cold-resistant plasticizer, release agent, stabilizing agent, surface active agent, thiofide, water-proofing agent, polishing agent, lubricating agent. softening agent other organic chemicals.
Application areas of stearic acid may include:
-the food production industry
-As confectionery ingredient
-Detergent, shampoo and shaving cream production
-battery production
-the textile industry
-candle making
-fireworks
Stearic acid is used as an additive in some foods with the E number of E570.
Stearic acid is mainly used in the manufacture of detergents, soaps and cosmetics such as shampoo and shaving cream.
Soaps are not made directly from stearic acid, but indirectly by saponification of triglycerides, which are composed of stearic acid esters.
Ethylene glycol, glycol stearate and glycol distearate, as well as stearic acid esters, are used to create a pearly effect in shampoos, soaps and other cosmetic products.
They are added to the product in a molten state and allowed to crystallize under controlled conditions.
Detergents are derived from amides and quaternary alkylammonium derivatives of stearic acid.
Thanks to the soft texture of sodium salt, the main component of soap, other salts are also useful for their lubricating properties.
Lithium stearate is an essential component of grease.
Stearate salts of zinc, calcium, cadmium and lead are used to soften PVC.
Stearic acid is used with castor oil to prepare softeners in textile sizing.
Stearic acid is a commonly used lubricant during injection molding and pressing of ceramic powders.
Stearic acid is used as a mold release agent for foam latex fired in stone molds.
Stearic acid is used as a negative plate additive in the manufacture of lead-acid batteries.
While preparing the dough, 0.6 g per kilogram of oxide is added.
During initial charge and charge (IFC), the charging time of a non-dry charged battery is comparatively lower than a battery assembled with plates without stearic acid additives.
Fatty acids are classic components of candle making.
Stearic acid is used as a hardener in candies with simple sugar or corn syrup.
In fireworks, stearic acid is often used to coat metal powders such as aluminum and iron.
This prevents oxidation and allows the compositions to be stored longer.
Stearic acid is an emulsifier, emollient, and lubricant that can soften skin and help to keep products from separating.
Stearic acid is used in hundreds of personal care products, including moisturizer, sunscreen, makeup, soap, and baby lotion.
Also, Stearic acid is used in adhesives, lubricants, laundry products and paper products.
Research shows that the ingredient may help burns heal.
Stearic acid is used as a lubricating agent.
Stearic acid is used as a food additive.
Additionally, Stearic acid is used as in the production of detergents.
Stearic acid is widely used in cosmetics, soaps, and shampoos.
In the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals Stearic acid is used.
Stearic acid is used in making insulators.
Stearic acid is used in food packaging industry.
Some applications of stearic acid is explained in detail as follows:
-As food additive
Stearic acid (E number E570) is found in some foods.
-Soaps, cosmetics, detergents
Stearic acid is mainly used in the production of detergents, soaps, and cosmetics such as shampoos and shaving cream products.
Soaps are not made directly from stearic acid, but indirectly by saponification of triglycerides consisting of stearic acid esters.
Esters of stearic acid with ethylene glycol (glycol stearate and glycol distearate) are used to produce a pearly effect in shampoos, soaps, and other cosmetic products.
Esters of stearic acid are added to the product in molten form and allowed to crystallize under controlled conditions.
Detergents are obtained from amides and quaternary alkylammonium derivatives of stearic acid.
-Lubricants, softening and release agents
In view of the soft texture of the sodium salt, which is the main component of soap, other salts are also useful for their lubricating properties.
Lithium stearate is an important component of grease.
The stearate salts of zinc, calcium, cadmium, and lead are used as heat stabilisers PVC.
Stearic acid is used along with castor oil for preparing softeners in textile sizing.
They are heated and mixed with caustic potash or caustic soda.
Related salts are also commonly used as release agents, e.g. in the production of automobile tires.
As an example, Stearic acid can be used to make castings from a plaster piece mold or waste mold, and to make a mold from a shellacked clay original.
In this use, powdered stearic acid is mixed in water and the suspension is brushed onto the surface to be parted after casting.
This reacts with the calcium in the plaster to form a thin layer of calcium stearate, which functions as a release agent.
When reacted with zinc it forms zinc stearate, which is used as a lubricant for playing cards (fanning powder) to ensure a smooth motion when fanning.
Stearic acid is a common lubricant during injection molding and pressing of ceramic powders.
Stearic acid is also used as a mold release for foam latex that is baked in stone molds.
-Niche uses
Being inexpensive, nontoxic, and fairly inert, stearic acid finds many niche applications.
Stearic acid is used as a negative plate additive in the manufacture of lead-acid batteries.
Stearic acid is added at the rate of 0.6 g per kg of the oxide while preparing the paste.
It is believed to enhance the hydrophobicity of the negative plate, particularly during dry-charging process.
Stearic acid also reduces the extension of oxidation of the freshly formed lead (negative active material) when the plates are kept for drying in the open atmosphere after the process of tank formation.
As a consequence, the charging time of a dry uncharged battery during initial filling and charging (IFC) is comparatively lower, as compared to a battery assembled with plates which do not contain stearic acid additive.
Fatty acids are classic components of candle-making.
Stearic acid is used along with simple sugar or corn syrup as a hardener in candies.
In fireworks, stearic acid is often used to coat metal powders such as aluminium and iron.
This prevents oxidation, allowing compositions to be stored for a longer period of time.
-Metabolism
An isotope labeling study in humans concluded that the fraction of dietary stearic acid that oxidatively desaturates to oleic acid is 2.4 times higher than the fraction of palmitic acid analogously converted to palmitoleic acid.
Also, stearic acid is less likely to be incorporated into cholesterol esters.
In epidemiologic and clinical studies, stearic acid was found to be associated with lowered LDL cholesterol in comparison with other saturated fatty acids.
Stearic acid Softens and smooths the skin's surface while also helping to maintain the skin barrier.
Stearic acid also works as a surfactant, though it is often used as an emulsifier to thicken products and improve their texture.
DESCRIPTION
Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid with an 18-carbon chain.
The IUPAC name of Stearic acid is octadecanoic acid.
Stearic acid is a waxy solid and its chemical formula is C17H35CO2H.
Name of Stearic acid comes from the Greek word στέαρ "stéar", which means tallow.
The salts and esters of stearic acid are called stearates.
As its ester, stearic acid is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in nature following palmitic acid.
The triglyceride derived from three molecules of stearic acid is called stearin.
Stearic Acid is a saturated long-chain fatty acid with an 18-carbon backbone.
Stearic acid is found in various animal and plant fats, and is a major component of cocoa butter and shea butter.
Additionally, Stearic acid is a white solid with a mild odor.
Stearic acid Floats on water.
Stearic acid (IUPAC systematic name: octadecanoic acid) is one of the useful types of saturated fatty acids that comes from many animal and vegetable fats and oils.
Stearic acid is a waxy solid.
Also, Stearic acid called Octadecanoic Acid, one of the most common long-chain fatty acids, found in combined form in natural animal and vegetable fats.
Commercial “stearic acid” is a mixture of approximately equal amounts of stearic and palmitic acids and small amounts of oleic acid.
Stearic acid is employed in the manufacture of candles, cosmetics, shaving soaps, lubricants, and pharmaceuticals.
In nature stearic acid occurs primarily as a mixed triglyceride, or fat, with other long-chain acids and as an ester of a fatty alcohol.
Stearic acid is much more abundant in animal fat than in vegetable fat; lard and tallow often contain up to 30 percent stearic acid.
Alkaline hydrolysis, or saponification, of fats yields soaps, which are the sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids; pure stearic acid is obtained with difficulty from such a mixture by crystallization, vacuum distillation, or chromatography of the acids or suitable derivatives.
The pure acid undergoes chemical reactions typical of carboxylic acids.
Stearic acid is a colourless, waxy solid that is almost insoluble in water.
Stearic acid, another name for octadecanoic acid CH3(CH2)16COOH, is one of the most common fatty acids.
Also, Stearic acid exists as a glycerol ester in most animal and plant fats.
Stearic acid is more abundant in animal fat (up to 30%) than vegetable fat (typically <5%).
The important exceptions are cocoa butter and shea butter, in which the stearic acid content (as a triglyceride) is 28–45%.
Unlike the other long-chain saturated fatty acids, stearic acid has no effect on lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in men or women.
Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid that can deposit on the surface in special conditions.
Stearic acid is an 18 carbon chain saturated fatty acid.
Stearic acid has a waxy structure in the solid state and its chemical formula is C17H35CO2H.
Its name comes from the Greek word στέαρ “stéar” meaning tallow.
Salts and esters of stearic acid are called stearates.
Stearic acid is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in nature after palmitic acid as its ester.
Triglyceride derived from three molecules of stearic acid is called stearin.
Stearic Acid is a typical example of a fatty acid, which are essentially long hydrocarbon chains containing a carboxyl group at one end and a methyl group at the other.
The chain lengths can vary from 3 (propionic acid) to 24 (lignoceric acid) but the majority of fatty acids found in hydrogenated vegetable or animal oils are around C16-C20 in length.
Stearic acid is a saturated acid, since there are no double bonds between neighbouring carbon atoms.
This means that the hydrocarbon chain is flexible and can roll up into a ball or stetch out into a long zig-zag.
Stearic acid, also known as octadecanoic acid or C18:0, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as long-chain fatty acids.
These are fatty acids with an aliphatic tail that contains between 13 and 21 carbon atoms.
Stearic acid (its ester is called stearate) is a saturated fatty acid that has 18 carbons and is therefore a very hydrophobic molecule that is practically insoluble in water.
Stearic acid exists as a waxy solid.
In terms of its biosynthesis, stearic acid is produced from carbohydrates via the fatty acid synthesis machinery wherein acetyl-CoA contributes two-carbon building blocks, up to the 16-carbon palmitate, via the enzyme complex fatty acid synthase (FA synthase), at which point a fatty acid elongase is needed to further lengthen it. After synthesis, there are a variety of reactions it may undergo, including desaturation to oleate via stearoyl-CoA desaturase.
Stearic acid is found in all living organisms ranging from bacteria to plants to animals.
Stearic acid is one of the useful types of saturated fatty acids that comes from many animal and vegetable fats and oils.
For example, Stearic acid is a component of cocoa butter and shea butter.
Stearic acid is used as a food additive, in cleaning and personal care products, and in lubricants.
Stearic acid, or stearin, is also called octadecanoic acid.
Stearic acid is a medium chain fatty acid, which is symbolized by the numbers 18: 0 or C18, to indicate that it has 18 carbon atoms and no double covalent bond: it is a saturated fatty acid.
The different qualities of stearic acid are characterized by their composition (proportion of C18 (stearic acid) and C-16 (palmitic acid) which are its two main components): the higher the ratio of C18, the higher is the purity of the Stearic acid.
Commercial stearic acid is made by separation and hydrogenation of fats and is usually a mixture of stearic acid (C-18) and palmitic acid (C-16).
Stearic acid is solid at room temperature, has a fatty character and is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in nature.
Stearic acid is used in the manufacturing of candles, surfactants and fatty alcohols.
Furthermore, it finds various applications in the rubber, lubricantand textile industry as well as in the production of EBS waxes, fatty amines and paper chemicals. For a long time already, stearic acid was used to produce metal soaps and additives for the plastics industry.
Stearic acid is a long chain saturated fatty acid.
Stearic acid is also called Octadecanoic acid or Stearophanic acid.
Additionally, Stearic acid is usually found in various plants and animal fats.
Stearic acid is a majorly found as a component of shea butter and cocoa butter.
The chemical formula of Stearic acid is C18H36O2.
In its solid form, it appears as a white solid and has a mild pungent, oily odor.
Stearic acid floats on water.
Also, Stearic acid functions as a plant metabolite, an algal metabolite, a Daphnia magna metabolite, and a human metabolite.
Stearic acid is derived from an octadecane.
PRODUCTION OF STEARIC ACID
Stearic acid is more abundant in animal fat (up to 30%) than in vegetable fat (typically <5%).
The important exceptions are the foods cocoa butter (34%) and shea butter, where the stearic acid content (as a triglyceride) is 28–45%.
In terms of its biosynthesis, stearic acid is produced from carbohydrates via the fatty acid synthesis machinery wherein acetyl-CoA contributes two-carbon building blocks.
Stearic acid is obtained from fats and oils by the saponification of the triglycerides using hot water (about 100 °C).
The resulting mixture is then distilled.
Commercial stearic acid is often a mixture of stearic and palmitic acids, although purified stearic acid is available.
Commercially, fats high in oleic acid such as palm and soy may be hydrogenated to convert oleic into stearic acid.
Stearic acid is a fatty acid typically produced by hydrolysis of common animal and vegetable fats and oils, followed by fractionation (distillation or crystallization) of the resulting fatty acids.
Pressing methods separate the liquid unsaturated fatty acids from the solid saturated fatty acids.
Stearic acid used in cosmetics is usually pressed two or three times, resulting in different concentrations.
Cosmetic-grade stearic acids are usually mixtures of fatty acids, depending on how they’re manufactured and where they come from (often they’re combined with palmitic acid).
There are several grades of stearic acid available commercially.
Properties of Stearic acid
Stearic acid: C18H36O2
Molecular Weight of Stearic acid: 284.484 g/mol
Density of of Stearic acid: 0.9408 g/cm3
Melting Point of Stearic acid: 69.3 °C
Boiling point of Stearic acid: 361 °C
SYNONYMS
Stearophanic acid
NSC 25956
1-Heptadecanecarboxylic acid
C18:0
NSC 261168
Cetylacetic acid
Octadecanoic acid
