Decanoic acid

• Decanoic
• Nonancarbonsäure
• Kuhsäure (deprecated)
• Bock acid (deprecated)
• Goat acid (deprecated)

Colorless, rancid -smelling solid

Fixed

0.89 g · cm -3

31 ° C.

268-270 ° C

5.4 x 10-2 Pa ( 298 K)

• Very poor in water: 150 mg · l-1 (20 ° C)
• Soluble in many organic solvents and dilute nitric acid

1.4288 ( 40 ° C)

Attention

10,000 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

The capric acid ( decanoic acid also ) is the saturated fatty acid, which is derived from the alkane n -decane. The name is derived as in the caproic and caprylic acid by capra, the Latin word for goat.

Properties

Capric acid is a white solid ( density 0.89 g/cm3), the just above room temperature melts (melting temperature 31 ° C). The acid has a " stand-like " odor, which to their naming (Latin capra goat ) and the historical common name " Bock acid " and " goat acid" has helped. Decanoic acid is well soluble in organic solvents such as alcohols (methanol, ethanol) or ethers. In water it dissolves poorly (0.15 g / l), but better deprotonation / salt formation in alkaline solutions. Its salts are called caprates or Decanoate.

It is combustible. The aqueous solution is slightly acidic. Due to the acidic effects they may cause irritation to eyes, respiratory system and skin, but it is totally non-toxic.

Production

Decanoic acid may be obtained by oxidation of n- decanol in the laboratory.

Occurrence and extraction

Capric acid is bound in triglycerides in different vegetable oils in relatively large proportions before. It occurs also in palm and coconut oil, or in the fat of goat milk. For these fats, the acid can be obtained industrially.

Use

Capric acid, and especially its derivatives, (e.g., containing capric acid triglyceride), are contained in cosmetics.