When a formulation or synthesis route calls for a straight-chain saturated fatty acid with predictable chemistry, palmitic acid is a practical place to start. Also known as hexadecanoic acid or C16:0, this 16-carbon carboxylic acid is widely used as a building block for esters, salts, surfactant systems, fatty-alcohol chemistry, lubricating materials, coatings, and other specialty formulations.
Eata Suganol supports palmitic acid sourcing for projects that need a clearly defined chemical identity, consistent physical form, and a specification that fits the intended process. The product entries below are the primary reference for available grades and product-specific parameters; the broader guidance on this page is intended to help customers select and evaluate the right option.
A Familiar Fatty Acid, Valued for What It Enables
Palmitic acid has the molecular formula C16H32O2 and a molecular weight of about 256.42 g/mol. Its saturated hydrocarbon chain gives the material a distinctly hydrophobic character, while the terminal carboxylic acid group provides the reactive functionality used in neutralization, esterification, amidation, and related transformations. At room temperature, palmitic acid is normally encountered as a white to off-white solid; commercial presentations can include flakes, powder, granules, beads, or prills depending on the grade and supplier process.
The material melts in the low-60 °C range, with literature and supplier references commonly placing the transition around 61-64 °C. It is only sparingly soluble in water, a feature that matters when designing aqueous systems but can be useful in hydrophobic matrices or when the palmitic acid is converted into a more dispersible salt, ester, or surfactant derivative.
Figure 1. White flake-form palmitic acid illustrates a common solid presentation for handling and formulation work.
Quick Reference Profile
| Property |
Reference information |
| Chemical name |
Palmitic acid / Hexadecanoic acid |
| CAS number |
57-10-3 |
| Molecular formula |
C16H32O2 |
| Molecular weight |
256.42 g/mol |
| Fatty-acid shorthand |
C16:0 |
| Typical appearance |
White to off-white solid; form may include flakes, powder, granules, beads, or prills |
| Melting behavior |
Generally in the low-60 °C range; exact specification depends on grade |
| Water behavior |
Very low water solubility / practically insoluble |
From C16 Carboxylic Acid to Useful Downstream Chemistry
Palmitic acid is often purchased not because it is the final performance ingredient, but because it is a versatile precursor. The carboxyl group reacts in well-established pathways, while the saturated C16 chain contributes hydrophobicity, body, and chain-length-specific behavior to the resulting derivative.
Figure 2. Bead or prill-like material is one possible physical format for easier dosing and bulk handling.
- Ester synthesis: reacts with mono- or polyfunctional alcohols to form palmitate esters used in lubricity, wax, coating, and formulation programs.
- Soap and surfactant chemistry: neutralization produces palmitate salts such as sodium palmitate; other transformations can lead to surface-active derivatives.
- Fatty-alcohol and intermediate chemistry: palmitic-acid routes can feed C16 alcohol and other oleochemical derivative programs.
- Lubricant and metalworking formulations: palmitic-acid-derived esters and salts can be evaluated where boundary lubrication, film formation, or surface interaction is important.
- Coatings, waxes, and polymer systems: C16-derived materials can be used to tune hydrophobicity, surface feel, slip, release, or barrier behavior, depending on the downstream derivative and formulation.
What Matters When You Specify a Palmitic Acid Grade
- Assay and fatty-acid composition. A higher palmitic-acid content can be important when downstream reaction stoichiometry or chain-length distribution must remain tightly controlled.
- Acid value. This is a practical quality indicator for free fatty-acid functionality and is commonly used in oleochemical specifications.
- Iodine value. Because palmitic acid is saturated, low unsaturation is normally expected; iodine value can help monitor the presence of unsaturated components.
- Color and odor. These attributes can matter in light-colored formulations, coatings, or products where background odor needs to be minimized.
- Physical form and particle size. Flakes, powder, beads, and prills differ in pourability, dust tendency, melt rate, and dosing behavior.
- Downstream compatibility. Solvent system, reaction temperature, mixing energy, surfactant package, and other ingredients can all influence how the fatty acid should be introduced.
Figure 3. Bench-scale screening can compare melt behavior, compatibility, processing sequence, and downstream reaction performance.
Related Fatty Acids and C16-Based Materials
| Material |
Chemical cue |
Why it is compared with palmitic acid |
| Myristic Acid |
C14:0 |
Shorter saturated chain; useful for comparing melting behavior, hydrophobicity, and derivative performance. |
| Stearic Acid |
C18:0 |
Longer saturated chain often evaluated alongside palmitic acid for body, hardness, wax, and surface effects. |
| Lauric Acid |
C12:0 |
Lower-chain saturated fatty acid commonly used as a comparison point in surfactant and ester chemistry. |
| Oleic Acid |
C18:1 |
Unsaturated fatty acid reference for programs where fluidity and unsaturation are desired variables. |
| Cetyl Alcohol |
C16 fatty alcohol |
A C16 alcohol relevant to emulsion, surfactant, lubricant, and specialty formulation development. |
| Sodium Palmitate |
C16 palmitate salt |
Neutralized palmitate used as a reference material in soap and surface-active chemistry. |
| Palmitate Esters |
C16 ester family |
Downstream derivatives for wax, lubricant, coating, and materials development. |
Figure 4. Palmitic-acid chemistry connects to synthesis, surfactant, lubricant, and coating development pathways.
How to Match Palmitic Acid to Your Process
A useful selection process starts with the transformation or formulation step rather than the commodity name. If palmitic acid will be reacted, the priority may be assay, fatty-acid profile, acid value, and water content. If it will be melted and incorporated directly into a formulation, physical form, color, odor, and melt behavior may become equally important.
Figure 5. A clean solid fatty-acid format can support straightforward storage, weighing, melting, and formulation work.
- For esterification or derivatization: define the target reaction, stoichiometry, catalyst system, solvent conditions, and acceptable impurity profile.
- For melt blending: check process temperature, mixing capability, cooling profile, and whether a fast-melting or low-dust physical form is preferred.
- For aqueous or emulsion systems: account for palmitic acid's very low water solubility and determine whether neutralization, emulsification, or pre-dispersion is required.
- For multi-fatty-acid systems: review the full C-chain distribution rather than relying only on nominal palmitic-acid content.
- For color-sensitive materials: align color limits and packaging/storage conditions with the finished-product requirement.
Not every project is well served by a one-size-fits-all commodity grade. Eata Suganol can discuss target assay ranges, preferred physical form, particle-size considerations, packaging configuration, and related C16-based materials so that the selected product fits the way it will actually be used. Custom requests are evaluated against technical feasibility and the specification requirements of the project.
If you are comparing palmitic acid grades, share the application, desired specification, expected processing conditions, and any key acceptance criteria. That information helps narrow the selection quickly and makes technical discussions more productive from the start.
Discuss Your Palmitic Acid Requirement
Contact Eata Suganol with your target grade, physical form, specification priorities, and intended use. We can help identify a suitable product option or evaluate a tailored request.
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