Chemistry

Polyphenols: Hydroxybenzoic acids – benzoic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid (Updated 2025)

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Hydroxybenzoic acids are polyphenols we find in our oils. They have the benzene ring with an acid – COOH – on the end, making them carboxylic acids. They offer all kinds of properties to our formulas – as you’ll see in a minute – and most work as anti-oxidants to slow down rancidity of oils....

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Chemistry Thursday: Carboxylic acids – monounsaturated long chain fatty acids, oleic acid (C18:1), and saponification, part 25

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Welcome back to this introduction to chemistry series! I hope you’re enjoying it so far. I know I am! Let’s talk more about carboxylic acids, specifically the fatty acids we encounter over and over again in our liquid oils, solid oils, butters, and waxes. This week, we’re getting into unsaturated C18:1 fatty acids, like oleic,...

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Chemistry: Carboxylic acids – long chain fatty acids (stearic acid, C18:0) and a bit on triglycerides, part 24

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Stearic acid in a tin plate, which is a white flaky solid.

Welcome back to this introduction to chemistry series! I hope you’re enjoying it so far. I know I am! Let’s talk more about carboxylic acids, specifically the fatty acids we encounter over and over again in our liquid oils, solid oils, butters, and waxes. In part 21 of this series – carboxylic acids – we...

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Chemistry Thursday: Carboxylic acids – long chain fatty acids (C14 to C16) – figuring out their molecular formulas, melting points, and omega-3, 6, 9 – part 23

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Welcome back to this introduction to cosmetic chemistry series! I hope you’re enjoying it so far. I know I am! Let’s talk more about carboxylic acids, specifically the fatty acids we encounter over and over again in our liquid oils, solid oils, butters, and waxes. In part 21 of this series – carboxylic acids –...

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Chemistry Thursday: Carboxylic acids – medium chain fatty acids (part 22) 

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In today’s post, part 22, we’re meeting medium chain fatty acids – caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, and lauric acid – all of which we encounter regularly in cosmetic chemistry. An important note about this series – it’s here for life. It isn’t going anywhere. If you want to take a break or take...

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