Myristic acid
Structural formula | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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General | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Surname | Myristic acid | |||||||||||||||||||||
other names | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Molecular formula | C 14 H 28 O 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Brief description |
white scales with a characteristic odor |
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External identifiers / databases | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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properties | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Molar mass | 228.38 g mol −1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Physical state |
firmly |
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density |
0.86 g cm −3 (54 ° C) |
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Melting point |
54-55 ° C |
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boiling point |
326 ° C |
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Vapor pressure |
7.0 10 −5 Pa (298 K) |
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solubility |
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safety instructions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Toxicological data | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As far as possible and customary, SI units are used. Unless otherwise noted, the data given apply to standard conditions . |
Myristic acid , also tetradecanoic acid , is a saturated fatty and carboxylic acid . It is derived from alkane n - tetradecane . Their salts and esters are called myristates or tetradecanoates .
Occurrence
In chemically bound form as triglyceride (triester of glycerine ), myristic acid is contained in most vegetable and animal fats , such as murumuru fat (21–37%), coconut fat (18–21%), palm kernel oil (15–17%), babassu oil ( 15–18%), whale oil (4–10%) and butterfat (8–14%). Myristic acid esters are found to a particularly high degree in nutmeg butter , hence the name myristic acid ( nutmeg , Latin: Myristica fragrans ). As a component of animal fats, it is mainly found in dairy products.
properties
It is insoluble in water , but it is insoluble in alcohols , ethers and acetone . The flash point is> 160 ° C.
use
As a widely used fatty acid, it is used in the manufacture of soaps and fatty alcohols .
health
A scientific study found that myristic acid caused the largest increases in blood levels of cholesterol compared to oleic acid and palmitic acid . This improves the cholesterol quotient because the HDL cholesterol increases more than the LDL cholesterol .
Individual evidence
- ↑ entry to Myristic ACID in CosIng database of the European Commission, accessed on May 25, 2020th
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Entry on myristic acid in the GESTIS substance database of the IFA , accessed on December 20, 2019(JavaScript required) .
- ↑ CD Cappa, ER Lovejoy, AR Ravishankara: Evaporation Rates and Vapor Pressures of the Even-Numbered C 8 −C 18 Monocarboxylic Acids in J. Phys. Chem. A 112 (2008) 3959-3964, doi : 10.1021 / jp710586m .
- ↑ a b Entry on tetradecanoic acid. In: Römpp Online . Georg Thieme Verlag, accessed on November 10, 2014.
- ↑ a b Zock PL1, de Vries JH, Katan MB: Impact of myristic acid versus palmitic acid on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in healthy women and men. 1994, PMID 8148355 .