212 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



The following acids are present in the vegetable oils and fat. 

 Normal caproic acid (C 6 H 12 O 2 ), Caprylic acid (C 8 H 16 O 2 ), and 

 Capric acid (C 10 H 20 O 2 ) are found in cocoa-nut oil, expressed 

 from the seeds of the cocoa-nut (Cocos nucifera), and in palm- 

 nut oil, obtained from the oily sarcocarp of the drupes of the 

 palm, Elais guineensis. 



LAURIC ACID (C 12 H 24 O 2 ) occurs in laurel-nut, obtained from 

 the seeds of Calophyllum Inophyllum (Fam. Guttiferse), a plant 

 growing in the East Indies and Cochin China. It is also found in 

 cocoa-nut oil and certain other vegetable oils. 



MYRISTIC ACID (C 14 H 28 O 2 ) is found in certain vegetable fats, 

 especially in nutmeg and mace. This oil forms crystalline salts 

 with both potassium and barium. 



PALMITIC ACID (C 16 H 32 O 2 ) occurs combined with glycerol in 

 a large number of vegetable oils, especially in palm-nut oil, and 

 Japan wax. The latter is obtained from fruits of Rhus vernicifera 

 and R. chinensis. It is also found in myrtle wax, which occurs 

 as an incrustation on the fruits of the wax myrtle (Myrica 

 cerifera) and bayberry (M. carolinensis) . This acid is not very 

 readily soluble in petroleum ether. A crystalline silver salt is 

 obtained by adding an alcoholic solution of silver nitrate to an 

 alcoholic solution of ammonium palmitate. 



STEARIC ACID (C 18 H 36 O 2 ) occurs as a glyceride in cacao butter 

 obtained from chocolate seeds, and in " Shea butter " obtained 

 from the seeds of Butyrospennum Parkii, a tree growing in Upper 

 Guinea and in the region of the Nile. 



ARACHIDIC ACID (C 20 H 40 O 2 ) occurs combined with glycerol in 

 peanut oil and other vegetable fats. The acid is soluble in boiling 

 alcohol, ether chloroform, benzene, and petroleum ether. It 

 forms crystalline salts of copper and silver. 



BEHENIC ACID (C 22 H 44 O 2 ) occurs as a glyceride in "oil of 

 Ben " expressed from the seeds of Moringa pterygosperma, a 

 plant of the East and West Indies. This oil is used for the 

 preparation of cosmetics, by perfumers for extracting odorous 

 substances, and as a lubricating oil for clocks. 



LIGNOCERIC ACID (C 24 H 48 O 2 ) occurs as a glyceride in peanut 

 oil, and is distinguished from arachidic acid in being slightly 

 soluble in cold alcohol. 



