Stearic, << stee AR ihk, >> acid is a valuable organic fatty acid that comes from many animal and vegetable fats and oils. It gets its name from a Greek word meaning tallow. It is also called octadecanoic acid.
Stearic acid is prepared commercially by treating animal fats with water at high temperature and at high pressure. It can also be obtained from the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, including cottonseed oil. Stearic acid is used for softening rubber and in manufacturing wax candles, cosmetics, and soaps.
Stearic acid is a waxy solid that melts at about 70 °C. It is a saturated fatty acid and it is found in many saturated fats.
