The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Stearic acid (or n-octadecanoic acid) has a chemical formula of CH3(CH2)16COOH and is a straight chain molecule. It is one of the most commonly found saturated fatty acids and it occurs as glycerides in the majority of animal and vegetable fats. It can account for 25% of the composition of animal fat. Stearic acid was isolated and named by French chemist Michel-Eugène Chevreul (1786-1889), who also isolated palmitic acid and oleic acid.
Stearic acid is particularly abundant in the harder fats with higher melting points. Pure stearic acid has a melting point of 158°F (70°C) and a boiling point of 709°F (376°C) at which temperature it shows thermal decomposition. Stearic acid, along with palmitic acid, can be used to make candles. Stearic acid is also used in the manufacture of suppositories. Like all fatty acids stearic acid is insoluble in water, but is soluble in ether and hot alcohol.
The sodium and potassium salts of stearic acid are soaps, sodium or potassium stearate. Stearic acid can be utilized in the Krebs tricarboxylic acid cycle where it can yield some 180 molecules of ATP (compared to sugar which will yield only 38 molecules).