View source for Lauric acid

== Description ==

A fatty acid with a 12 carbon chain. Lauric acid occurs naturally in [[coconut oil]] and [[laurel]] oil. At room temperature, lauric acid is a solid. The waxy compound is used to make [[alkyd resin|alkyd resins]], [[wetting agent|wetting agents]], [[soap|soaps]], [[detergent|detergents]], and [[insecticide|insecticides]].

== Synonyms and Related Terms ==

dodecanoic acid; laurostearic acid; dodecoic acid

[[[SliderGallery rightalign|lauric acid.jpg~Chemical structure]]]

== Other Properties ==

Soluble in benzene and ether. Slightly soluble in ethanol. Insoluble in water.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="row"| Composition
| CH3(CH2)10COOH
|-
! scope="row"| CAS
| 143-07-7
|-
! scope="row"| Melting Point
| 44
|-
! scope="row"| Density
| 0.869
|-
! scope="row"| Molecular Weight
| mol. wt. = 200.31
|-
! scope="row"| Boiling Point
| 160-165
|}

== Hazards and Safety ==

Combustible. Flash point = 112 C.  

Constact may cause skin and eye irritation  

Mallinckrodt Baker: [http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/l1653.htm MSDS]

== Authority ==

* ''The Merck Index'', Susan Budavari (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Whitehouse Station, NJ, 12th Edition, 1996  Comment: entry 5396

* Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993



[[Category:Materials database]]