stearic acid

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Word: Stearic Acid

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Stearic acid is a type of fatty acid that is solid at room temperature. It is found in many animal and vegetable fats. It has a waxy texture and is used in various products.

Simple Explanation:

• Fatty Acid: Think of stearic acid as a building block of fats. Just like how bricks make up a wall, fatty acids make up fats.
• Waxy Texture: If you touch stearic acid, it feels smooth and a little like wax, similar to a candle.

Usage Instructions:

Stearic acid is commonly used in: - Cosmetics: It helps to thicken creams and lotions. - Candles: It makes candles more solid and helps them burn longer. - Food: Sometimes it is used in food products as a stabilizer.

Example Sentence:

• "The lotion contains stearic acid, which helps it to spread smoothly on the skin."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, stearic acid is discussed in terms of its role in biochemistry and its applications in industry, such as in the production of detergents, soaps, and plastics.

Word Variants:

• Stearate: This is a salt or ester of stearic acid. For example, sodium stearate is commonly used in soaps.
• Stearin: This refers to the solid portion of fats that contains stearic acid.

Different Meaning:

In a more technical context, stearic acid may be discussed in terms of its molecular structure and how it interacts with other compounds, particularly in discussions about lipids and fats.

Synonyms:

• Octadecanoic acid: This is the scientific name for stearic acid.
• Fatty acid: While this is a broader term, stearic acid is one specific type.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to stearic acid since it is a technical term primarily used in chemistry and industry.

Summary:

Stearic acid is an important fatty acid that is solid at room temperature and found in many fats. It has various uses in cosmetics, food, and manufacturing.

Academic

Noun

1. a waxy saturated fatty acid; occurs widely as a glyceride in animal and vegetable fats

Synonyms

• octadecanoic acid