206 STEARIC ACID. 



This soap is readily decomposed by a stronger acid, 

 and then yields pure stearic acid, which resembles 

 stearine in appearance and properties. It is, how- 

 ever, a distinct acid, and melts at 158°. 



515. Margarine closely resembles" stearine, but it 

 is more fusible, melting at 116°. When saponified, 

 it yields margaric acid, a substance very similar to 

 stearic acid, but more fusible, melting at a tempera- 

 ture of about 140°. 



516. Elaine, or oleine, constitutes the fluid part of 

 oils ; it remains liquid at all common temperatures, 

 and, treated with alkalies, yields a fatty substance, 

 oleic acid, which greatly resembles oleine in proper- 

 tfes. 



517. These substances may to some extent be se- 

 parated by mechanical means alone. When semifluid 

 oils, those which consist of stearine and oleine, are 

 cooled, and then strongly pressed, the whole of the 

 fluid oil or elaine may be squeezed out, and nearly 

 pure stearine is obtained. The stearine, or mixture 

 of stearine and margarine thus procured, is an ex- 

 cellent material for candles, whilst the fluid oil which 

 is pressed out may be used for various other pur- 

 poses not requiring solidity. 



518. Stearic acid, however, being harder and still 

 less fusible, makes even better candles than stearine ; 

 hence it has become a considerable manufacture. 

 The stearine is boiled with alkali or lime, and the 

 salt formed, then decomposed by a stronger acid. 



519. Candles made of stearic acid are hard, bril- 



