palmitic acid
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A saturated fatty acid that is a major component of animal and vegetable fats and oils. It is a common, naturally occurring solid fatty acid, often found in palm oil, meat, and dairy products.
Usage
This term is used primarily in scientific, nutritional, and biochemical contexts to describe a specific type of fat molecule. It is a technical term.
Examples
- Scientific Context: Palmitic acid is one of the most common saturated fatty acids in biological systems.
- Nutritional Context: Many nutrition labels list the amount of saturated fat, which includes palmitic acid.
- Biochemical Context: The body can synthesize palmitic acid from other nutrients.
Advanced Usage
- Chemical Formula: It is often referred to by its systematic name, hexadecanoic acid (C₁₆H₃₂O₂).
- Industrial Use: Palmitic acid is used in the production of soaps, cosmetics, and food additives.
Variants and Related Words
- Hexadecanoic Acid: The systematic IUPAC name for palmitic acid.
- Palmitate: The salt or ester form of palmitic acid (e.g., sodium palmitate, glyceryl tripalmitate).
Synonyms
- Hexadecanoic acid (scientific synonym)
Notes on Meaning
This word has a single, specific scientific meaning. It does not have idiomatic or phrasal verb uses.
Noun
- a saturated fatty acid that is the major fat in meat and dairy products