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Glite Dictionary
octadecanoic acid

octadecanoic acid

5.4
A type of fat found in animal and vegetable fats, called stearic acid
  • noun
  • /ˌɒk.təˈdeɪ.kə.nɔɪk ˈæs.ɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ácido esteárico
  • Many animal fats contain octadecanoic acid.

Examples

  • Soap can be produced through the reaction of octadecanoic acid with a strong base.

  • Researchers analyzed the octadecanoic acid content of various margarine samples.

  • Octadecanoic acid is commonly found in both animal tallow and vegetable oils.

  • The body produces octadecanoic acid during fat metabolism.

  • Octadecanoic acid is commonly found in both animal tallow and vegetable oils.

  • Researchers analyzed the octadecanoic acid content of various margarine samples.

  • Many animal fats contain octadecanoic acid.

Synonyms

stearic acid
vsoctadecanoic acid
  • Specialized
6.7

A hard waxy part of animal and plant fats used to make soap and candles

is the systematic chemical name used for the same fatty acid

Surface Forms

octadecanoic acid singular
octadecanoic acids plural

Morphology

octadecanoic + acid

The head 'octadecanoic' is a specialized chemical-forming morpheme (octadec- = 18 carbons, -anoic = carboxylic acid) that an average B1 learner will not recognize; knowing the general word 'acid' only gives the broad category, not the specific identity (stearic acid). Because the specific meaning relies on technical morphological knowledge rather than ordinary vocabulary composition, a B1 learner would not be able to derive the MWE's meaning from its parts.

Etymology

Octadecanoic acid comes from parts that mean 'eighteen' and 'acid': octadeca- plus -oic, so the name describes a fat molecule with a chain of eighteen carbon atoms. That's why this long name refers to the common fatty acid also called 'stearic acid'.