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Myristic acid

Myristic acid^[1]

IUPAC name	tetradecanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	544-63-8
PubChem	11005
SMILES	CCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O
Properties
Molecular formula	C₁₄H₂₈O₂
Molar mass	228.37092
Density	0.8622 g/cm³
Melting point	58.8 °C
Boiling point	250.5 °C at 100 mmHg
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Myristic acid, also called tetradecanoic acid, is a common saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula CH₃(CH₂)₁₂COOH. A myristate is a salt or ester of myristic acid.

Additional recommended knowledge

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Myristic acid is named after the nutmeg (Myristica fragrans). Nutmeg butter is 75% trimyristin, the triglyceride of myristic acid. Besides nutmeg, myristic acid is also found in palm oil, butter fat and spermacetin, the crystallized fraction of oil from the sperm whale.

Myristic acid is also commonly added co-translationally to the penultimate, nitrogen terminus, glycine in receptor-associated kinases to confer the membrane localisation of the enzyme. The myristic acid has a sufficiently high hydrophobicity to become incorporated into the fatty acyl core of the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane of the eukaryotic cell. In this way, myristic acid acts as a lipid anchor in biomembranes.

The ester isopropyl myristate is used in cosmetic and topical medicinal preparations where good absorption through the skin is desired.

Reduction of myristic acid yields myristyl alcohol.

References

^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 6246

v • d • e Lipids: fatty acids
Saturated	Butyric - Hexanoic - Caprylic - Decanoic - Lauric - Myristic - Palmitic - Stearic - Arachidic - Behenic - Lignoceric
Omega-3 fatty acid	Alpha-linolenic - Stearidonic acid - Eicosapentaenoic acid - Docosahexaenoic acid
Omega-6 fatty acid	Linoleic - Gamma-Linolenic acid - Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid - Arachidonic
Omega-9 fatty acid	Oleic - Erucic