Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
dodecanoic acid

dodecanoic acid

7.2
A fatty acid found in coconut and palm-kernel oil
  • noun
  • /ˌdoʊdɪˈkeɪnɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ácido dodecanoico
  • Dodecanoic acid is widely used in the production of soaps and shampoos due to its cleansing properties.

Examples

  • Coconut oil contains a high percentage of dodecanoic acid, making it a valuable raw material for the cosmetic industry.

  • Coconut oil contains high levels of dodecanoic acid.

  • Researchers measured the amount of dodecanoic acid present in the palm-kernel oil samples.

  • The chemical formula for dodecanoic acid is C12H24O2.

  • Dodecanoic acid is commonly found in coconut oil, which is often used in cooking and beauty products.

  • The presence of dodecanoic acid in palm-kernel oil contributes to the oil's unique properties.

  • Many skincare products list dodecanoic acid as an ingredient for its beneficial effects on the skin.

Synonyms

lauric acid
vsdodecanoic acid
  • Specialized
4.9

A fat found in coconut and palm kernel oil used to make soap and cosmetics

is defined by its crystalline physical form in those natural oils

Surface Forms

dodecanoic acid singular
dodecanoic acids plural

Morphology

dodecanoic + acid

While 'acid' is a familiar lexical item, 'dodecanoic' is a technical organic-chemistry formation (dodec- = twelve, -anoic = carboxylic acid) whose meaning requires specialist morphological and domain knowledge. A typical B1 learner who knows only basic constituent words would not be able to infer that this denotes a specific saturated fatty acid found in oils, so the expression is not transparently derivable.

Etymology

Dodecanoic acid comes from the parts dodec- (meaning 'twelve') and -anoic acid (a 'type of acid'). The name points to the fact that the substance has twelve carbon atoms and is a common acid in coconut and palm-kernel oils, so the word directly describes what the substance is.