lauric acid

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-insoluble powder, C 12 H 24 O 2 , a fatty acid occurring as the glyceride in many vegetable fats, especially coconut oil and laurel oil: used chiefly in the manufacture of soaps, detergents, cosmetics, and lauryl alcohol.

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lauric acid British  

/ ˈlɒ-, ˈlɔːrɪk /

noun

1. another name for dodecanoic acid

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lauric acid Scientific  

/ lôr′ĭk /

1. A saturated fatty acid obtained chiefly from coconut and laurel oils and used in making soaps, cosmetics, esters, and lauryl alcohol. It is combustible and forms colorless needles that have waxy odor and taste. Chemical formula: C ₁₂ H ₂₄ O ₂ .

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Etymology

Origin of lauric acid

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The oil contains lauric acid, which gives it antiviral and antifungal properties.

From National Geographic • Feb. 7, 2024

To be fair, some saturated fats – such as stearic acid and lauric acid – have recently been shown to have neutral effects on blood cholesterol levels.

From US News • Oct. 14, 2015

But the same kind of evidence indicates that other saturated fatty acids such as stearic acid, found prominently in dark chocolate but also in meat, and lauric acid, found in coconut, may be innocuous.

From US News • Mar. 18, 2013

In the case of coconut and palm kernel oils, calculate to and report in terms of lauric acid in addition to oleic acid, clearly indicating the two methods of calculation in the report.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by Thomssen, E. G.