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Stearic acid

Stearic acid ( STEER-ik, stee-ARR-ik) is a saturated fatty acid with an 18-carbon chain and has the IUPAC name octadecanoic acid. It is a waxy solid and its chemical formula is C17H35CO2H. Its name 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.

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Further Information

Names

Preferred IUPAC name: Octadecanoic acid

Other names

Stearic acid
C18:0 ()

Identifiers

CAS Number: 57-11-4

JSmol: Interactive image

ChEMBL: ChEMBL46403

ChemSpider: 5091

DrugBank: DB03193

ECHA InfoCard: 100.000.285

EC Number: 200-313-4

IUPHAR/BPS: 3377

PubChem: 5281

RTECS number: WI2800000

Properties

Chemical formula: C18H36O2

Molar mass: 284.48 g·mol

Appearance: White solid

Odor: Pungent, oily

Density: 0.9408 g/cm (20 °C)
0.847 g/cm (70 °C)33

Melting point: 69.3 °C (156.7 °F; 342.4 K)

Boiling point: 361 °C (682 °F; 634 K)
decomposes
232 °C (450 °F; 505 K)
at 15 mmHg

Solubility in water: 0.00018 g/100 g (0 °C)
0.00029 g/100 g (20 °C)
0.00034 g/100 g (30 °C)
0.00042 g/100 g (45 °C)
0.00050 g/100 g (60 °C)

Solubility: acetates

Solubility: 3.58 g/100 g (25 °C)
8.85 g/100 g (30 °C)
18.3 g/100 g (35 °C)

Solubility: 1.09 g/100 mL (10 °C)
2.25 g/100 g (20 °C)
5.42 g/100 g (30 °C)
22.7 g/100 g (40 °C)
105 g/100g (50 °C)
400 g/100g (60 °C)

Solubility: 4.96 g/100 g

Solubility: 18.4 g/100 g

Solubility: 15.75 g/100 g

Vapor pressure: 0.01 kPa (158 °C)
0.46 kPa (200 °C)
16.9 kPa (300 °C)

Magnetic susceptibility: -220.8·10 cm/mol−63

Thermal conductivity: 0.173 W/m·K (70 °C)
0.166 W/m·K (100 °C)

Refractive index: 1.4299 (80 °C)

Structure

Crystal structure: Monoclinic

Space group: B-form = P2/a1

Point group: B-form = C

Lattice constant: = 5.591 Å, = 7.404 Å, = 49.38 Å (B-form)

Thermochemistry

Specific
heat capacity: 501.5 J/mol·K

Std molar
entropy: 435.6 J/mol·K

Std enthalpy of
formation: −947.7 kJ/mol

Std enthalpy of
combustion: 11290.79 kJ/mol

Hazards

NFPA 704:

Flash point: 113 °C (235 °F; 386 K)

median dose: 21.5 mg/kg (rats, intravenous)

Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their(at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their(at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Infobox references