Stearic Acid
in chemistry C18H35O.
OH, an acid discovered by Chevreul, and found as a frequent constituent of fats derived from the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and especially abundant as a tristearin in beef and mutton suet. It may be obtained by saponifying the fat with soda lye, decomposing with sulphuric acid, dissolving the fatty acids in alcohol, and repeatedly crystallizing, the first portions of the fatty acid only being taken. When pure it crystallizes from alcohol in nacreous laminæ or needles, needles, is tasteless and inodorous, and has a distinct acid reaction. Its specific gravity is nearly that of water, it melts at 69- 69.2°, distills in a vacuum without alteration, and is sparingly soluble in alcohol, more so in ether and benzene.