Stearine
or STEARIN, in chemistry, C57H11006, the chief ingredient of suet and tallow, or the harder ingredient of animal fats, oleine being the softer one.
It is obtained from mutton suet by repeated solution in ether and crystallization. It may also be obtained by pressing tallow between hot plates, and afterward dissolving in hot ether, which on cooling deposits the stearine. It has a pearly luster, is soft to the touch, but not greasy. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in hot alcohol and ether. When treated with superheated steam it is separated into stearic acid and glycerin, and when boiled with alkalies is saponified, that is, the stearic acid combines with the alkali, forming soap, and glycerin