File:Stearic-acid-3D-balls.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
stearic acid
Sign in to saveAlso known as octadecoic acid, n-octadecanoic acid, FFA(18:0), OLA, octadecanoic acid, cetylacetic acid, 1-heptadecanecarboxylic acid, n-octadecanoic acidd
chemical compound
Stearic acid is a waxy, fatty substance found naturally in many animal and plant products like meat, chocolate, and vegetable oils. It's commonly used in manufacturing soaps, cosmetics, candles, and other products because of its useful properties for creating solid or semi-solid textures.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C18H36O2
- Molecular weight
- 284.5 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- hydron;octadecanoate
- SMILES
- [H+].CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)[O-]
- InChIKey
- QIQXTHQIDYTFRH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- Polar surface area
- 40.1 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 2
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Research
8,478 papers- Stearic acid metabolism in human health and disease.ReviewClinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) · 2025Shen X, Miao S, Zhang Y et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.12.012
- Stearic acid, clotting, and thrombosis.ReviewThe American journal of clinical nutrition · 1994Hoak JCDOI: 10.1093/ajcn/60.6.1050S
- Stearic acid metabolism and atherogenesis: history.ReviewThe American journal of clinical nutrition · 1994Kritchevsky DDOI: 10.1093/ajcn/60.6.997S
- Effects of stearic acid on plasma lipid and lipoproteins in humans.Lipids · 2005Mensink RPDOI: 10.1007/s11745-005-1486-x
- Influence of stearic acid on cholesterol metabolism relative to other long-chain fatty acids.ReviewThe American journal of clinical nutrition · 1994Grundy SMDOI: 10.1093/ajcn/60.6.986S
- Regulatory history for stearic acid.ReviewThe American journal of clinical nutrition · 1994Vanderveen JEDOI: 10.1093/ajcn/60.6.983S
- Stearic Acid as Polymerization Medium, Dopant and Hydrophobizer: Chemical Oxidative Polymerization of Pyrrole.Macromolecular rapid communications · 2024Koizumi R, Atsuta Y, Fameau AL et al.DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400448
- Stearic Acid Treatment Enhancing Corrosion Resistance of Biomimetic-Deposited Calcium Phosphate Dihydrate Coating on Medical Degradable Magnesium Alloy.ACS biomaterials science & engineering · 2023Wang T, Dong Y, Xu Y et al.DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00003
via PubMed
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 284.272
- Image
- Stearinsäure auf Uhrglas.jpg
Show 7 more facts
- Commons category
- Stearic acid
- MCN code
- 2915.70.20
- chemical formula
- C₁₈H₃₆O₂
- canonical SMILES
- CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O
- boiling point
- 361
- melting point
- 68.82
- density
- 0.94
via Wikidata · CC0
~7 min read
Article
Stearic acid (/ˈstɪərɪk/ STEER-ik, /stiˈærɪk/ stee-ARR-ik) is a saturated fatty acid with an 18-carbon chain. The IUPAC name is octadecanoic acid. It is a soft waxy solid with the formula CH3(CH2)16COOH. The triglyceride derived from three molecules of stearic acid is called stearin. Stearic acid is a prevalent fatty acid in nature, found in many animal and vegetable fats, but is usually higher in animal fat than vegetable fat. It has a melting point of 69.4 °C (156.9 °F) °C and a pKa of 4.50.
Its name comes from the Greek word στέαρ "stéar", which means tallow. The salts and esters of stearic acid are called stearates. As its glycerol ester, stearic acid is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in nature and in the food supply, following palmitic acid. Dietary sources of stearic acid include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, and foods prepared with fats; beef tallow, lard, butterfat, cocoa butter, and shea butter are rich fat sources of stearic acid.