Stearic acid

Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid with an 18-carbon chain. The IUPAC name is octadecanoic acid. It is a soft waxy solid with the formula CH3(CH2)16COOH.

The triglyceride derived from three molecules of stearic acid is called stearin.
Stearic acid is a prevalent fatty acid in nature, found in many animal and vegetable fats, but is usually higher in animal fat than vegetable fat.
It has a melting point of 69.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0

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