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Glite Dictionary
tripalmitin

tripalmitin

9.9
A fat found in oils that forms when glycerol joins three palmitic acid molecules
  • noun
  • /ˌtrɪpælˈmɪtɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tripalmitina
  • The formation of tripalmitin involves ester bonds between glycerol and three palmitic acid molecules.

Examples

  • Tripalmitin is commonly found in various vegetable fats and oils.

  • Researchers measured the melting point of purified tripalmitin in the laboratory.

  • The chemical structure of tripalmitin is complex.

  • Many researchers study tripalmitin for its health benefits.

  • Tripalmitin is a key component in many types of cooking oils and fat emulsions.

  • In their experiment, scientists used tripalmitin to understand its behavior at different temperatures.

  • The biochemist explained how tripalmitin is produced when glycerol combines with three molecules of palmitic acid.

Synonyms

glycerol tripalmitate
vstripalmitin
  • Specialized
8.8

A fat made of glycerol and three palmitic acid molecules

has identical chemical meaning but is an alternative technical name
palmitin
vstripalmitin
  • Specialized
9.1

A fat found in palm oil and other animal or plant fats

is narrower, meaning only the ester with three palmitic acid groups

Surface Forms

tripalmitin singular
tripalmitins plural

Morphology

tripalmitin = palmitin (semi-transparent) = tri + palmitin

The numeric prefix 'tri-' transparently signals 'three', but the base 'palmitin' is specialized chemical vocabulary that many learners will not know.

Etymology

Tripalmitin breaks into parts: tri- means 'three', like in tricycle, and palmit- comes from a word meaning 'palm' because the acid was first found in palm oil; the ending -in marks it as a fat. So, tripalmitin is a fat made when one glycerol joins with three palmitic acid parts.