Oleic Acid occurs as a colourless to pale yellow, oily liquid when freshly prepared, but upon exposure to air it gradually absorbs oxygen and darkens. It is an unsaturated acid obtained from fats. When strongly heated in air, it decomposes and produces acrid vapours. Its specific gravity is about 0.895. It is practically insoluble in water, but is miscible with alcohol, with ether, and with fixed and volatile oils.
Function: Component in the manufacture of other food grade additives; defoaming agent; lubricant; binder.
Oleic acid is a fatty acid that occurs naturally in various animal and vegetable fats and oils. It is an odorless, colorless oil, although commercial samples may be yellowish. In chemical terms, oleic acid is classified as a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, abbreviated with a lipid number of 18:1 cis-9.