Palmitic acid

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

CAS No 57-10-3; Cetylic acid; Hexadecanoic acid; n-Hexadecanoic acid; palmitic acid

Definition
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Palmitic acid is a saturated monocarboxylic acid with the molecular formula C16H32O2. The fatty acid is insoluble in water, easily soluble in hot ethanol and in ether.

Occurrence
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Palmitic acid occurs naturally and freely in numerous fatty oils, especially in palm oil(Elaeis guineensis oil), coconut oil and other natural oils. In esterified form in beeswax, as ceyl ester in spermaceti. The esters (especially the gylcerol esters) of palmitic acid are widely used in cosmetic formulations.

Examples for different palmitic acid derivatives used in cosmetics:

The glycerol ester with the isopalmitic acid is used as emulsifier in cosmetic products(glyceryl isopalmitate).

Note(s)
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Palmitates are the salts/esters of palmitic acid.

Incoming links (78)

Avocado oil; Castor oil; Cetyl esters (inci); Cetylic acid; Cocoa butter; Cocois oleum raffinatum; Coconut butter; Coconut oil; Croton oil; Dhupa oil; ... Show all

Outgoing links (9)

Cetearyl palmitate (inci); Coconut oil; Elaeis guineensis oil (inci); Glyceryl isopalmitates (inci); Glyceryl palmitate (inci); Glyceryl palmitate lactate (inci); Glyceryl palmitate/stearate (inci); Potassium palmitate (inci); Sodium palmitate (inci);

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

Images (1)

Structural formula of palmitic acid.

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Definition
Occurrence
Note(s)
References
Authors