palmitic acid

Chem.: C16H3202=C15H31.CO.OH. Cetylic acid, Ethalic acid, Olidic acid. An acid found in nearly all animal and vegetable fats. It is obtained by saponifying palm oil with pota ic hydrate, decomposing the resulting soap, and purifying the separated fatty acid by crystallization from alcohol. It is a colorle , solid body, without taste or smell, insoluble in water, very soluble in alcohol and ether, melts at 62°, and resolidifies on cooling in a ma of leafy crystals. It boils at 268.5°, under a pre ure of 100 mm., and may be distilled almost unchanged. It forms neutral and acid salts called palmitates. palmitic-ether, s. Chemistry: C16H31 (C2H5) O2. Formed by pa ing hydrochloric acid gas into a saturated alcoholic solution of palmitic acid. It crystallizes in prisms, which melt at 24.2°.