Stearic Acid - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

STEARIC ACID, n-Octodecylic acid CH 3 (CH 2) 16 CO 2 H, an organic acid found as its glyceride stearin, mixed with palmitin and olefin, in most tallows (hence its name, from Gr. o-rap, tallow). The socalled "stearin" of candles is a mixture of stearic and palmitic acids (see Candle).