PALMITIC ACID, Cull3.202. One of the most important of the fatty acids. In a pure state, when crystallized from alcohol, it occurs in the form of beautifully white aeicular crystals ar ranged in tuft-like groups. These crystals are devoid of odor or taste, communicate a fatty feel ing to the finger• melt at 62' C., and solidify on cooling in the form of crystalline scales. The acid is lighter than water, in which it is in soluble: but it dissolves freely in boiling alcohol and in ether• and the solutions have a distinctly acid reaction. In small quantities it may be distilled without decomposing, if the beat be carefully regulated; and it may be distilled in any quantity under reduced pressure. The neu tral palmitates of the alkalies constitute soaps, and are soluble in warm water: if, however, their solutions are largely diluted with cold water, they are decomposed, an insoluble acid salt being pre cipitated, while a half of the alkali remains in solution. The other most important compounds
of palmitic acid are those which it forms with glycerin and with cetyl alcohol. With glycerin this acid forms three compounds. the most im portant of which is palmitin (q.v.). In combina tion with cetyl alcohol, whose composition is rep resented by the formula C„II,,,OH, it is the main constituent of spermaceti (q.v.). and as palmitate of melissyl it occurs in beeswax. The calcium salt of palmitie acid is found in adipocere, its sodium salt in blood and in serous fluids. Pal mitic acid was first obtained from palm oil— hence its name. It may he obtained from oleic acid by fusing with caustic potash (see OLEIC ACID), but is now usually prepared either from Japan wax or myrtle wax.