octadecanoic acid
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A saturated fatty acid with the chemical formula C₁₇H₃₅COOH. It is a solid, waxy substance at room temperature and is a common component of natural fats and oils.
Usage
This is a technical, scientific term used primarily in chemistry, biochemistry, and food science contexts. It refers to the specific chemical compound itself. * Octadecanoic acid is a major component of animal fats like beef tallow. * The study measured the concentration of octadecanoic acid in various vegetable oils.
Advanced Usage
- In industrial contexts, salts or esters of octadecanoic acid are common. For example, sodium octadecanoate is a type of soap.
- The term is often used in nutritional analysis to specify the saturated fat content of foods.
Variants and Related Words
- Stearic acid: This is the most common and practical name for octadecanoic acid. The two terms are synonyms in most contexts.
- Saturated fatty acid: This is the broader category to which octadecanoic acid belongs.
- Glyceride: A compound formed from glycerol and fatty acids, such as tristearin (the triglyceride of octadecanoic acid).
Synonyms
- Stearic acid (the common name)
Different Meanings
This term has only one specific meaning: it refers exclusively to the chemical compound with the formula C₁₇H₃₅COOH. There are no idiomatic or figurative uses.
Noun
- a waxy saturated fatty acid; occurs widely as a glyceride in animal and vegetable fats