6996. Palmitic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 57-10-3
Hexadecanoic acid; hexadecylic acid; cetylic acid.
C16H32O2; mol wt 256.42.
C 74.94%, H 12.58%, O 12.48%.

Description and references

Occurs as the glyceryl ester in many oils and fats. Obtained from palm oil, Japan wax, or Chinese vegetable tallow. Purification: Magne et al., US 2791596 (1957 to Secretary of Agriculture). Toxicity study: L. Or"o, A. Wretlind, Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol. 18, 141 (1961).

Chemical structure

Properties

White, crystalline scales. d462 0.853. mp 63-64°. bp15 215°. nD80 1.4273. Insol in water. Sparingly sol in cold alcohol or in petr ether; freely sol in hot alcohol, in ether, propyl alcohol, chloroform. LD50 i.v. in mice: 57±3.4 mg/kg (Or"o, Wretlind).