Cell-culture research
Sigma P0500 documents palmitic-acid use in macrophage/adipocyte and hepatocyte experiments. [5]
01
THE ESSENTIALS
Palmitic Acid in 30 Seconds
Fourteen methylenes connect CH₃ to COOH. C16:0 indicates 16 carbons and zero carbon–carbon double bonds. The neutral identity is achiral.
Palmitic acid is the saturated C16 free fatty acid. Palmitate salts and fatty-acid residues in fats or cell membranes are related chemical contexts, not interchangeable reagent identities. [1] [3]
Safety at a glance — TCI P0002 classifies serious eye irritation. Control powder and contact exposure according to the exact-product SDS; dietary occurrence and cellular research do not make a reagent suitable for consumption. If warmed for a method, account for molten-material handling separately. [4] [5] [6]
A condensed structural formula keeps the functional groups visible. [1]
02
GO A LITTLE DEEPER
Understanding Palmitic Acid
THE SIMPLE EXPLANATION
The functional groups
Fourteen methylenes connect CH₃ to COOH. C16:0 indicates 16 carbons and zero carbon–carbon double bonds. The neutral identity is achiral. [1]
A LITTLE DEEPER
What the structure changes
Carboxyl neutralization forms palmitate salts and esterification forms palmitate esters. A total acid-equivalent assay does not prove the C16 composition or distinguish adjacent fatty acids. Biological occurrence does not establish suitability of a reagent for dietary use. [1] [12]
Technical detail Identity, dissociation & specification
The molecular identity specifies carbon count and double-bond geometry. A salt, ester, oil blend or oxidation product is separately identified. Overall assay, acid equivalents, isomer composition and package measurement basis remain separate specifications. [1] [2] [4] [5] [6]
Acid–base reference values describe equilibria under specified conditions. They are not a substitute for a validated formulation or an assay on the purchased lot.
03
MAKE THE CONNECTION
How Palmitic Acid Compares
Similar names and functional groups do not mean interchangeable chemicals.
SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON
Palmitic Acid vs Stearic Acid
C16 saturated straight-chain fatty acid
versusC18 saturated straight-chain fatty acid
Fixed comparison for this prototype. Acid selectors are disabled; additional comparisons are coming later.
| Property | Palmitic Acid | Stearic Acid |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C₁₆H₃₂O₂ [1] | C₁₈H₃₆O₂ [7] |
| Molecular weight | 256.42 g/mol [1] | 284.5 g/mol [7] |
| Carbon atoms | 16 [1] | 18 [7] |
| Carboxyl groups | 1 [1] | 1 [7] |
| Structure | CH₃–(CH₂)₁₄–COOH [1] | CH₃–(CH₂)₁₆–COOH [7] |
| Chemical family | C16 saturated straight-chain fatty acid [1] | C18 saturated straight-chain fatty acid [7] |
| Identity focus | Saturated free acid; composition limits separate [1] | Saturated free acid; composition limits separate [7] |
Chemical identities are compared here; supplier grades, concentrations, and stereochemical specifications are separate purchasing attributes. pKa values retain their stated conditions; no quantitative solubility ranking is implied.
When Might You Choose One Instead of the Other?
Choose palmitic acid for a method specifying C16:0; choose stearic acid for C18:0. Match chromatographic composition, other fatty acids, water and intended-use grade rather than assuming equivalent purity from titration. [1] [3] [7]
Specified starting material
Palmitic Acid
Match CH₃–(CH₂)₁₄–COOH and the method’s required chemical form.
Stearic Acid
Match CH₃–(CH₂)₁₆–COOH; verify the identity before substituting a related acid.
Before choosing: match the reaction or formulation, then verify the exact form, grade, assay basis, and impurities. These contexts do not establish suitability for an industrial or regulated application.
04
FROM STRUCTURE TO APPLICATION
What Is Palmitic Acid Used For?
Cell-culture research
Sigma P0500 documents palmitic-acid use in macrophage/adipocyte and hepatocyte experiments. This is direct research use under specified preparation conditions, not a health benefit or patient-use claim. [5]
Palmitate synthesis intermediate
Attributed industrial records identify manufacture of metallic palmitates and soaps. The acid is converted to salts; lubricant or surfactant performance belongs to the specified product or formulation. [3]
06
SOURCE WITH CONTEXT
Palmitic Acid Suppliers
Compare specific products and package options. Listings are not ranked recommendations.
3 suppliers · 3 products · 8 package listingsLatest supplier check: October 3, 2026
Package sizes stay grouped under the supplier product. Assay methods, product forms, and regional markets remain visible. TCI specifies 97% GC and titration, Wako 95% capillary GC, and Sigma ≥99% with no method. Sigma’s duplicated concentration field for a powder does not establish an aqueous product. Food/pharma use requires separately qualified material.
Scroll horizontally if needed. Supplier and package identity stay visible.
| Supplier | Product / Grade | Purity / Assay | Package Size | Public Price | Normalized Price | Documentation | Last Checked | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCI AmericaPalmitic Acid | Named grade not statedP0002 · 25 g | GC: minimum 97.0% Neutralization titration: minimum 97.0% | 25 g | $19.00USD · US public price | Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ | Document notes: TCI America
| View Product: TCI America, P0002 · 25 g (opens new tab) | |
| Named grade not statedP0002 · 500 g | GC: minimum 97.0% Neutralization titration: minimum 97.0% | 500 g | $30.00USD · US public price | Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ | View Product: TCI America, P0002 · 500 g (opens new tab) | |||
| Sigma-AldrichPalmitic Acid | Named grade not statedP0500-10GPowder; duplicate supplier “concentration” field is not evidence of an aqueous solution. | Minimum 99%; method not stated | 10 g | $65.80USD · US public list price | Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ | Document notes: Sigma-Aldrich
| View Product: Sigma-Aldrich, P0500-10G (opens new tab) | |
| Named grade not statedP0500-25GPowder; duplicate supplier “concentration” field is not evidence of an aqueous solution. | Minimum 99%; method not stated | 25 g | $146.00USD · US public list price | Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ | View Product: Sigma-Aldrich, P0500-25G (opens new tab) | |||
| Named grade not statedP0500-100GPowder; duplicate supplier “concentration” field is not evidence of an aqueous solution. | Minimum 99%; method not stated | 100 g | $436.00USD · US public list price | Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ | View Product: Sigma-Aldrich, P0500-100G (opens new tab) | |||
| Named grade not statedP0500-250GPowder; duplicate supplier “concentration” field is not evidence of an aqueous solution. | Minimum 99%; method not stated | 250 g | $781.00USD · US public list price | Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ | View Product: Sigma-Aldrich, P0500-250G (opens new tab) | |||
| FUJIFILM WakoPalmitic Acid | Wako Special Grade; from palm168-20732Research / further manufacturing; Japan stock does not confirm US availability. 500 g showed out of stock; 95% is not equivalent to the higher-assay products. | 95.0+% (Capillary GC) | 25 g | $39.00USD · US catalog list price | Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ | Document notes: FUJIFILM Wako
| View Product: FUJIFILM Wako, 168-20732 (opens new tab) | |
| Wako Special Grade; from palm162-20735Research / further manufacturing; Japan stock does not confirm US availability. 500 g showed out of stock; 95% is not equivalent to the higher-assay products. | 95.0+% (Capillary GC) | 500 g | $60.00USD · US catalog list price | Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ | View Product: FUJIFILM Wako, 162-20735 (opens new tab) |
TCI America
Palmitic Acid
Neutralization titration: minimum 97.0%
Named grade not stated
25 g
P0002 · 25 g- Public price
- $19.00USD · US public price
- Normalized price
- Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ
500 g
P0002 · 500 g- Public price
- $30.00USD · US public price
- Normalized price
- Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ
Documentation
Document notes: TCI America
- A product-specific certificate retrieval option was visible; no lot certificate was reviewed. Open the product page and use its certificate section.
- A current regional SDS was not verified in this pass.
- Origin-document availability was not verified. Country of origin is unverified and is not inferred.
Last checked:
Sigma-Aldrich
Palmitic Acid
Named grade not stated
Powder; duplicate supplier “concentration” field is not evidence of an aqueous solution.
10 g
P0500-10G- Public price
- $65.80USD · US public list price
- Normalized price
- Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ
25 g
P0500-25G- Public price
- $146.00USD · US public list price
- Normalized price
- Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ
100 g
P0500-100G- Public price
- $436.00USD · US public list price
- Normalized price
- Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ
250 g
P0500-250G- Public price
- $781.00USD · US public list price
- Normalized price
- Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ
Documentation
Document notes: Sigma-Aldrich
- A product-specific certificate retrieval option was visible; no lot certificate was reviewed. Open the product page and use its certificate section.
- A current regional SDS was not verified in this pass.
- Origin-document availability was not verified. Country of origin is unverified and is not inferred.
Last checked:
FUJIFILM Wako
Palmitic Acid
Wako Special Grade; from palm
Research / further manufacturing; Japan stock does not confirm US availability. 500 g showed out of stock; 95% is not equivalent to the higher-assay products.
25 g
168-20732- Public price
- $39.00USD · US catalog list price
- Normalized price
- Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ
500 g
162-20735- Public price
- $60.00USD · US catalog list price
- Normalized price
- Not comparedGrades, assay bases, or forms differ
Documentation
Document notes: FUJIFILM Wako
- A product-specific certificate retrieval option was visible; no lot certificate was reviewed. Open the product page and use its certificate section.
- A current regional SDS was not verified in this pass.
- Origin-document availability was not verified. Country of origin is unverified and is not inferred.
Last checked:
Documentation evidence
COA = Certificate of Analysis · SDS = Safety Data Sheet · COO = Certificate of Origin.
Lookup means a retrieval option was visible, not that a lot certificate was reviewed. Check supplier means availability or the applicable document was not verified.
Prices may vary by quantity, account, contract, geography, and availability. These products have different grades, assay bases, or forms; no normalized comparison is shown. Foreign-market prices are reference listings only. No currency conversion, mass-to-volume conversion, or ranking is applied. Confirm equivalent specifications and a current quote before comparison. [4] [5] [6]
Verification limits & placement policy
Water solubility: CONFLICT UNRESOLVED. TCI 0.82 mg/L at 25 °C differs from attributed Robb 0.04 mg/L at 25 °C. Sigma gives 0.00005 g/L at 20 °C. Measurement/material cause not established; no numerical solubility ranking promoted. Density: CONFLICT UNRESOLVED. Sigma labels 0.852 g/mL at 25 °C; attributed CRC gives 0.8527 g/cm³ near 62 °C and Wako specific gravity 0.85 at 70 °C. Phase/method mismatch not resolved; main density omitted. pKa: OMITTED. Condition-matched measured dissociation value not verified. Melting / boiling: CONDITION-DEPENDENT. Supplier specification and literature ranges remain attributed; reduced-pressure boiling values retain pressures.
Only the displayed identity, specification, packages, public prices and stated documentation evidence were reviewed. Current stock, lead times, shipping eligibility, contract pricing, lot certificates, and regulatory suitability are unverified.
There are no paid placements. Future paid listings will show “Sponsored” in both views; payment will not determine chemistry interpretation or imply a ranking.
07
PLAN A LARGER ORDER
Need Palmitic Acid in Bulk?
Turn your requirements into a clear supplier brief.
Bulk RFQ feature — coming soon. Prototype form: submissions are not currently sent to suppliers. Use sample details to prepare an on-screen brief.
Prepare a bulk request Prototype form
08
A BUYER’S CHECKLIST
Before You Buy Palmitic Acid
Selections remain only while this page is open.
09
FOR YOUR REFERENCE
Palmitic Acid Technical Reference
Identity, product reference properties, and handling context.
Identification Names, formula & identifiers
- Principal CAS
- 57-10-3
- Identity focus
- Saturated free acid; composition limits separate
- Formula
- C₁₆H₃₂O₂
- Molecular weight
- 256.42 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- hexadecanoic acid
- Connectivity SMILES
- CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O
- Identity SMILES
- CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C16H32O2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16(17)18/h2-15H2,1H3,(H,17,18)
- PubChem CID
- 985
Connectivity SMILES describes connectivity; it is not an independent stereochemical assignment. CAS and product-form distinctions are supported by the supplier listings. [1] [4] [5] [6]
Physical Properties Product references & conditions
Solid at 20 °C. Near-melting and elevated-temperature density references must not be used as room-temperature powder density. [13] [4] [5]
- Melting specification
- TCI P0002: 62–66 °C; Sigma literature reference: 61–62.5 °C [4]
- Reduced-pressure boiling reference
- Sigma P0500: 271.5 °C at 100 mmHg; Wako: 219 °C at 20 mmHg [5]
Hydrate, concentration, stereoisomer, and temperature can change the relevant specification. Product reference data are not a reviewed lot certificate.
Acid/Base Properties Verified values & missing data
A numeric pKa was not verified for the selected identity in this review; no value is inferred. [2]
Water solubility: CONFLICT UNRESOLVED. TCI 0.82 mg/L at 25 °C differs from attributed Robb 0.04 mg/L at 25 °C. Sigma gives 0.00005 g/L at 20 °C. Measurement/material cause not established; no numerical solubility ranking promoted. Density: CONFLICT UNRESOLVED. Sigma labels 0.852 g/mL at 25 °C; attributed CRC gives 0.8527 g/cm³ near 62 °C and Wako specific gravity 0.85 at 70 °C. Phase/method mismatch not resolved; main density omitted. pKa: OMITTED. Condition-matched measured dissociation value not verified. Melting / boiling: CONDITION-DEPENDENT. Supplier specification and literature ranges remain attributed; reduced-pressure boiling values retain pressures.
Temperature, ionic strength, and the use of activities versus concentrations matter in quantitative work. These reference values are not buffer recipes.
Safety at a Glance Product-specific hazards
TCI P0002 classifies serious eye irritation. Control powder and contact exposure according to the exact-product SDS; dietary occurrence and cellular research do not make a reagent suitable for consumption. If warmed for a method, account for molten-material handling separately. [4] [5] [6]
Hazard classifications can vary by concentration, product, supplier and jurisdiction. Review the SDS for the exact product before handling. This summary does not replace the SDS.
Supplier safety information and SDS retrieval (opens new tab)
A product-page safety classification is not verification of every regional SDS. Confirm product code, chemical form and current local document.
Review supplier documentation10
COMMON QUESTIONS
Palmitic Acid FAQ
What distinguishes Palmitic Acid?
Fourteen methylenes connect CH₃ to COOH. C16:0 indicates 16 carbons and zero carbon–carbon double bonds. The neutral identity is achiral. [1]
How does it differ from Stearic Acid?
Stearic acid adds two methylenes and is C18:0. Both are saturated monoacids; their molecular residues and thermal behavior differ. A commercial stearic blend may contain palmitic acid, so names and total titration alone do not define composition. [7]
What must a buyer specify?
TCI specifies 97% GC and titration, Wako 95% capillary GC, and Sigma ≥99% with no method. Sigma’s duplicated concentration field for a powder does not establish an aqueous product. Food/pharma use requires separately qualified material. [4]
Are the listed products directly price-comparable?
No. The table retains differing grades, assay bases, forms, and markets. No normalized ranking or currency conversion is applied. [5]
What reference data still need checking?
Water solubility: CONFLICT UNRESOLVED. TCI 0.82 mg/L at 25 °C differs from attributed Robb 0.04 mg/L at 25 °C. Sigma gives 0.00005 g/L at 20 °C. Measurement/material cause not established; no numerical solubility ranking promoted. Density: CONFLICT UNRESOLVED. Sigma labels 0.852 g/mL at 25 °C; attributed CRC gives 0.8527 g/cm³ near 62 °C and Wako specific gravity 0.85 at 70 °C. Phase/method mismatch not resolved; main density omitted. pKa: OMITTED. Condition-matched measured dissociation value not verified. Melting / boiling: CONDITION-DEPENDENT. Supplier specification and literature ranges remain attributed; reduced-pressure boiling values retain pressures.
Can I request a bulk quote here?
The RFQ is a prototype that prepares an on-screen brief. Nothing is sent to suppliers. Confirm actual bulk terms directly with the supplier.
11
TRACE THE INFORMATION
Sources & Editorial Notes
Identity and compiled reference values are separated from supplier-specific specifications. Structural comparisons and buyer guidance are editorial interpretation. Sources were checked October 3, 2026; supplier information can change.
- PubChem · chemical identity (opens new tab)
Neutral molecular identity verified independently through PUG REST; CAS also checked on all selected supplier products.
- PubChem / HSDB · dissociation references (opens new tab)
No numeric field promoted: insufficient conditions or unresolved conflicting records.
- PubChem / HSDB · application references (opens new tab)
Attributed application records reviewed claim by claim. Free acid, intermediate, derivative and biological context are distinguished.
- TCI America · commercial product (opens new tab)
Direct product checked October 3, 2026. Identity, listed assay methods, packages, market, prices and documentation interfaces inspected. Lot certificates and stock are not verified.
- Sigma-Aldrich · commercial product (opens new tab)
Direct product checked October 3, 2026. Identity, listed assay methods, packages, market, prices and documentation interfaces inspected. Lot certificates and stock are not verified.
- FUJIFILM Wako · commercial product (opens new tab)
Direct product checked October 3, 2026. Identity, listed assay methods, packages, market, prices and documentation interfaces inspected. Lot certificates and stock are not verified.
- Stearic Acid · identity (opens new tab)
Primary structural comparison. Practical interpretation does not establish suitability.
- Myristic Acid · identity (opens new tab)
Related identity and structural relationship.
- Lauric Acid · identity (opens new tab)
Related identity and structural relationship.
- Oleic Acid · identity (opens new tab)
Related identity and structural relationship.
- Stearic Acid · dissociation references (opens new tab)
Only independently reviewed values are promoted into the comparison; no condition-free acidity ranking.
- OpenStax · Carboxylic-acid structure and properties (opens new tab)
General carboxylate resonance, acidity and structural interpretation; not authority for this acid’s quantitative constants.
- PubChem / HSDB · attributed physical references (opens new tab)
Attributed conditions reviewed; derivative contamination and unresolved discrepancies excluded from unqualified constants.
Review limits
Water solubility: CONFLICT UNRESOLVED. TCI 0.82 mg/L at 25 °C differs from attributed Robb 0.04 mg/L at 25 °C. Sigma gives 0.00005 g/L at 20 °C. Measurement/material cause not established; no numerical solubility ranking promoted. Density: CONFLICT UNRESOLVED. Sigma labels 0.852 g/mL at 25 °C; attributed CRC gives 0.8527 g/cm³ near 62 °C and Wako specific gravity 0.85 at 70 °C. Phase/method mismatch not resolved; main density omitted. pKa: OMITTED. Condition-matched measured dissociation value not verified. Melting / boiling: CONDITION-DEPENDENT. Supplier specification and literature ranges remain attributed; reduced-pressure boiling values retain pressures.
This informational prototype is not a supplier, quotation service, or endorsement of a product’s fitness for an application. Buyers should verify the applicable specification, certification, and regulatory requirements for their intended use.