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Glite Dictionary
margaric acid

margaric acid

9.2
A clear solid chemical used in labs and factories made from fats
  • noun
  • /ˈmɑrɡərɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
: ácido margarico
  • Pure margaric acid appears as colorless crystals under the microscope.

Examples

  • The chemist synthesized margaric acid in the lab.

  • The laboratory synthesized margaric acid as part of its research into fatty acids.

  • Industrial applications sometimes require the use of margaric acid in chemical processes.

  • Have you ever worked with margaric acid?

  • Qualified researchers often use margaric acid in various chemical experiments due to its unique properties.

  • In industrial settings, margaric acid is utilized for producing synthetic fat compounds.

  • The production of biodiesel can involve margaric acid as an essential component in the formulation.

Synonyms

heptadecanoic acid
vsmargaric acid
  • Specialized
8.6

A fatty chemical with 17 carbon atoms used in lab research

omits a specific carbon atom count in its description

Surface Forms

margaric acid singular
margaric acids plural

Morphology

margaric + acid

The head 'acid' clearly signals that the phrase names a type of acid, so a learner who knows 'acid' can infer it refers to a chemical substance. However, 'margaric' is a technical, non-transparent modifier (not a common lexical item) so the precise meaning and properties of the acid are not derivable from everyday vocabulary, making the expression only partly predictable.

Etymology

Margaric acid comes from an old word margaric meaning 'pearl' because early chemists found it as small, pearly crystals when they broke down fats, so the shiny, 'pearl'-like look gave the acid its name.