Stearic, is a triglyceride, a glyceryl ester of stearic acid, derived from animal fats created as a byproduct of processing beef.
It can also be found in tropical plants such as palm. It is used as tallow in the manufacture of candles and soap. In the manufacture of soap, stearin is mixed with a sodium hydroxide solution in water. The following reaction gives glycerin and sodium stearate, which can be used as soap:
C
3H
5(C
18H
35O
2)
3 + 3 NaOH → C
3H
5(OH)
3 + 3 C
17H
35COONa
stearin + 3 sodium hydroxide → glycerol + 3 sodium stearate
Stearic is also used in conjunction with aluminium flakes to help in the grinding process in making dark aluminium powder.
Stearic is a side product obtained during the extraction of cod liver oil removed during the chilling process at temperatures below −5 °C.