Behenic acid is a widely used ingredient in cosmetics, personal care, and skincare formulations. Depending on its function, it may serve as a moisturizer, preservative, emulsifier, or active ingredient to enhance the overall effectiveness and performance of a product.
Behenic acid (also docosanoic acid) is a carboxylic acid, the saturated fatty acid with formula C21H43COOH. In appearance, it consists of white solid although impure samples appear yellowish.
![]() | |
Names | |
---|---|
Preferred IUPAC name
Docosanoic acid | |
Other names
Behenic acid, Docosanoic acid; 1-Docosanoic acid; n-Docosanoic acid, n-Docosanoate, Glycon B-70, Hydrofol Acid 560, Hydrofol 2022-55, Hystrene 5522, Hystrene 9022, Prifrac 2989, C22:0 (Lipid numbers)
| |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
|
|
ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.646 |
EC Number |
|
KEGG | |
PubChem CID
|
|
UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
|
|
| |
| |
Properties | |
C22H44O2 | |
Molar mass | 340.592 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | White solid |
Melting point | 80.0 °C (176.0 °F; 353.1 K) |
Boiling point | 306 °C (583 °F; 579 K) |
Hazards | |
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
|
