MARGARIC ACID

n. Ma3r-ga2r'i2k. From ii.apya.pov, a pearl. Fr., acide margarique. Ger., Margarinsaurv. It., acido margarico. Sp., dcido margarico. Syn.: cetyl carbonic acid. A monobasic acid existing in nearly all natural fats, having the formula C^H^O.,, and occurring as a solid substance melting at about 60. It is believed by some to be a mere mixture of palmitic and stearic acids; but from later observations this would seem not to be the case. [B, 3, 4, 12, 13.] [s. 712]