What is lauric acid?

Lauroic acid, also correctly known as supputanic acid, is saturated with fatty acid commonly found in coconut and palm oils, as well as milk. Its main use in production is like a component in soaps and shampoos that appear as a white, powder substance. Infants consume this during breastfeeding and children, adolescents and adults accept it by eating fruit and oils that contain it. Research suggests that it can have more health benefits due to its antimicrobial properties, but more studies are required to confirm the initial results.

Chemical properties and appearance

The chemical formula for this substance is c _{12 h 24 2 . With 12 carbon atoms, it is classified as a middle -chain fatty acid. They always have between six and 12 carbon atoms, which distinguishes them from the types of short chains of two to six carbon atoms and versions with a long chain with more than 12.Yselin. Its molar mass is 200,31776. It normally has a white color and occurs as a solid crystalline powder. The melting point is 109.8 ° F (43.2 ° C), while the boiling point is 570 ° F (298.9 ° C).}

Common Sources

Dodecanic acid naturally occurs in a handful of sources, especially vegetable oils and milk. Coconut milk is probably the most famous source, because 45-57% of its fats is Lauric. Palm core oil and laurel oil also have a high concentration of approximately 50%. Human breast milk has another highest level at approximately 6%, followed by goat and cow's milk, which both have around 3%.

Use of use

companies often use lauric acid to produce shampoo and soaps - often pairing with sodium hydroxide and is usually on product labels like Sodium laurel sulphate. Its chemical composition allows to interact with fats and also polar solvents, which are substances that dissolve other things and have a small electric charge - water is an example. As a result, it can connect with oils found on hair that one can wash. Other common uses include the production of laurylacohol, insecticides and cosmetics.

Application while cooking

Palm oils and coconut oil, excellent sources of lauric acid, are acceptable for use in cooking. The first type is widely used in commercial food production because it is relatively cheap. The second is valued for its sweet taste and is often preferred for the production of specific types of seafood. The use of these options varies according to the region. For example, in the United States and most North America, people rely more on vegetable oil, but many tropical countries still use mostly coconut and palm versions.

In recent years, research workers have stigmatized both of these oils as unhealthy, mainly because of studies that indicate that saturated fats, including KThe Laur Yselines increase "bad" cholesterol LDL and contribute to problems such as heart disease. In fact, many fatty acids with medium chain can be quite beneficial. Experts also now know that the worst perpetrators are trans -uks that come from the hydrogenation of vegetable oils and which at the same time increase LDL and lower "good" cholesterol HDL. For this reason, they recommend avoiding hydrogenated oils and suggesting that saturated fats such as supputanic acid should generally not account for more than 10% of the person's calories. A better understanding of different types of fats and their health consequences leads to coconut and palm oils becoming more popular.

roles in medicine

Medical experts suspect that lauric acid has potential health benefits that have antimicrobial properties. They know that consumption is combined with glycerol to form , a compound that the body uses to destroy microbes coated with lipid. The people of her bondThey are for treatment on condition such as infections of yeast, eczema and psoriasis, ulcers, common influenza and even prevent HIV/AIDS from their mothers to their children. Some studies also indicate that it can increase metabolism, as with other middle -chain fatty acids. There is no sufficient evidence that supports many claims, so most scientists agree that further research is required to create definitive conclusions.

Scientific use

Using techniques such as melting depression, scientists use lauric acid to study molar weights of unidentified substances. By completing these processes, they are able to make some conclusions about what an unknown item might be. In many cases, this basic identification is necessary to ensure the safety of scientists and to determine how to continue with other tests or experiments.