Chemistry at Work: Stearic Acid’s Role in Everyday Life
by Yuvi K - December 19, 2023
Chemistry at Work: Stearic Acid’s Role in Everyday Life
Chemistry is at work in everyday life, powering the products we use and enjoy. A good example of this is stearic acid, which can be found in candles, cosmetics, and other everyday products. Keep reading to discover why stearic acid is so useful and what it contributes to our lives!
What is Stearic Acid?
Chemically, stearic acid is a long-chain fatty acid. Its official name is octadecanoic acid, and its molecular formula is C18H36O2. Stearic acid can solidify and exist in different forms, from colorless flakes to white waxy solids.
When it comes to common applications, this acid is a useful stabilizer and thickener in many products. It combines well with both sugars and ions, and it helps create stable formulas in products like candles and soaps.
Where Does Stearic Acid Come From?
There are two main sources of stearic acid: animal fats and vegetable oils. Many animal-based stearic acids are derived from tallow, a rendered animal fat. But they’re also found in fats like whale blubber and sheep suet.
Vegetable-based stearic acid starts off in crude palm oil harvested from the palm tree Elaeis guineensis. This palm oil is then fractionated (or separated) to produce different components, like stearic acid.
What Can Stearic Acid Do?
When it comes to everyday products, stearic acid is invaluable. It can act as an emulsifier, binding different ingredients together. Stearic acid adds lubrication to skin creams and other emulsions, and it helps them last longer. In some ointments, it can even act as an active ingredient thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Stearic acid is also useful in cosmetics like foundation and mascara. It helps bind pigments together, making the makeup last longer and more resistant to sweating.
Benefits of Stearic Acid in Everyday Products:
- It helps bind ingredients in emulsions and makeup.
- It adds sheen and luster to skin creams, soaps, and lotions.
- It helps keep a product’s texture more consistent over time.
- It acts as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent in some products.
- It can help thicken candles so they last longer and don’t drip.
Stearic Acid in Candles:
Candles are a good example of how versatile stearic acid is. This acid helps keep the candle’s texture consistent as it melts and hardens. It also helps slow down the burning process and stops the candles from dripping too much.
Most major candle companies add stearic acid to their candles to help control the melting rate and keep them lasting longer. Here’s a table showing the different contents of various candles:
| Candle Type | Paraffin Wax | Stearic Acid |
|---|---|---|
| Votive Candles | 87-96% | 3-10% |
| Tealight Candles | 85-91% | 7-15% |
| Gel Candles | 60-85% | 7-15% |
| Rolled Candles | 80-88% | 10-20% |
Conclusion
Stearic acid is an essential ingredient for everyday products like skin creams, candles, and other cosmetics. It helps bind and thicken ingredients, and it also has some other useful properties, such as its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial nature.
This versatile acid can be derived from both animal fats and vegetable oils, and it’s an irreplaceable ingredient in many products. Next time you use a skin cream, light a candle, or pick up some other product, remember that stearic acid is at work!
