Why is stearic acid soluble in water?

Why is stearic acid soluble in water?

The tail is basically an alkane, and so readily dissolves in fat, oil and grease, but not in water. Thus the tail is said to be hydrophobic (water-hating). The head-group however is polar, and so easily dissolves in water (hydrophilic – water-loving) and will not dissolve in oil or grease.

What is stearic acid soluble in?

Stearic acid is soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol, DMSO, and dimethyl formamide. The solubility of stearic acid in these solvents is approximately 20, 10, and 30 mg/ml, respectively.

Is stearic acid soluble in hot water?

Stearic acid is a fatty acid mainly used in the formation of surfactants (Non-Ionic Surfactants). You can try to dissolve it in hot purified water (but it’ll be dissolved according to its conc. (limited solubility)).

Does stearic acid float in water?

Stearic Acid is a waxy, colorless or white solid that exudes a mild odor. It is soluble in oil but only slightly dissolves in water, thus it floats.

What stearic acid is used for?

Stearic acid is used most often to thicken and retain the shape of soaps (indirectly, through saponification of triglycerides composed of stearic acid esters), and it is also used in shampoos, shaving creams, and detergents.

How do you soluble stearic acid?

ABSTRACT: The solubility of stearic acid in ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, and acetone has been measured gravimetrically at various temperatures ranging from 301 to 313 K at atmospheric condition. The solubility of stearic acid in ethyl acetate was found to be the highest, followed by ethanol, acetone and methanol.

What can be used in place of stearic acid?

Organic beeswax offers an all-natural substitute to stearic acid or e-wax as an emulsifier, although it is not as effective of an emulsifier, which may lead to a watery consistency in cosmetics and candles. Lecithin is another emulsifier that can be a substitute for stearic acid.

Why stearic acid is used in vanishing cream?

Stearic acid is ideal as an emulsifying agent and great for skin products. It is the major component of vanishing cream. It govern consistency of the cream. In emulsions, Stearic Acid is an effective stabilizer, thickener and softener.

How do you make stearic acid at home?

  1. Weigh beef tallow and add to the pot, then heat to a low boil. You’ll need a total weight to measure other ingredients.
  2. Add 3 oz.
  3. Add 4 oz.
  4. Once the stearin has cooled, it will be a solid cake floating on the liquid underneath.
  5. Place the stearin cake into another pan and melt over low heat.