Carboxylic Acids
Buy Stearic, Oleic, Palmitic, Lauric, Propionic and Butyric Acid in Lab, FCC, NF and Kosher Grades.
Buy carboxylic acids online in the grade your formulation actually needs, with the price right on the page. This category covers a real mix: the long chain fatty acids, stearic, oleic, palmitic and lauric acid, used across cosmetics, food and industrial work, plus the shorter chain propionic and butyric acid, mainly used as food preservatives and flavor compounds. There are also two fatty acid esters here, Isopropyl Myristate and Isopropyl Palmitate, both derived from palm and RSPO Mass Balance, Kosher and Halal certified.
Grades run from Lab Grade for general and industrial use up to FCC Food Grade and NF Grade for anything going into food, drugs or personal care products. Several of the food grade products here, lauric, propionic, the two isopropyl esters, carry Kosher certification, and the isopropyl esters add Halal and RSPO Mass Balance on top. That's specific to those SKUs, not the whole category, so check each product title before assuming a certification applies. Every product ships with its SDS and COA posted online, and sizes run from small jars up to 55 gallon drums on select items.
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Carboxylic Acids - 1 products About Carboxylic Acids
A carboxylic acid is any organic compound built around a carboxyl group, COOH, a carbon atom double bonded to one oxygen and single bonded to a hydroxyl group. That group is what makes it an acid, since the hydroxyl hydrogen can be donated in water, though most of the carboxylic acids on this page are weak acids compared to something like hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. What really varies across this category is the carbon chain attached to that group. Short chain acids like butyric and propionic acid are pungent liquids, often with a sharp or unpleasant smell. Long chain fatty acids like stearic and palmitic acid are waxy solids at room temperature, while oleic acid, which has a double bond in its chain, stays liquid. The isopropyl esters here are a step removed again, since an ester forms when a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol, in this case isopropyl alcohol reacting with myristic or palmitic acid.
COMMON APPLICATIONS
Soap, cosmetic and personal care formulation with stearic and palmitic acid, used as emulsifiers, thickeners and emollients. Skin conditioning and moisturizing with Isopropyl Myristate and Isopropyl Palmitate, both common cosmetic esters. Food preservation and flavor with propionic acid, used as a mold inhibitor in baked goods, and butyric acid, which contributes to butter and cheese flavor compounds. Candle and wax manufacturing with stearic acid. Lubricant and surfactant production with oleic acid. Soap making and detergent formulation more broadly across several of these fatty acids. And general reagent and chemical intermediate work in research labs.
GRADES EXPLAINED
Lab Grade is solid, everyday purity with no official monograph, the practical choice for industrial, cosmetic base or general reagent use. FCC Food Grade and NF Grade meet food chemical and National Formulary standards respectively, and that's the tier to buy for anything going into food, drinks or pharmaceutical products. RSPO Mass Balance certification, carried by both isopropyl esters, confirms the palm oil feedstock was sourced under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil's mass balance supply chain model.
TYPES & GRADES AT A GLANCE
Lab and NF grade, a waxy long chain fatty acid used in soap, cosmetics and candle making.
Lab and FCC grade, a liquid unsaturated fatty acid used in lubricants, surfactants and food applications.
Lab grade, a common long chain fatty acid used in soap and cosmetic formulation.
Granular Lab Grade, Kosher certified, used in soap making and surfactant production.
A food preservative and mold inhibitor, certified for food use.
Lab and FCC grade, used as a reagent, chemical intermediate and flavor compound.
WHY BUY FROM LAB ALLEY
256,000+ customers already order their chemicals and reagents from Lab Alley. 99.5% of orders ship within 1 to 2 business days, and 98.9% inventory accuracy means the grade you see in stock is the grade that ships. SDS and COA are available online for every carboxylic acid on this page, and select products, including our Lauric Acid, Propionic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate and Isopropyl Palmitate, carry Kosher certification, with the isopropyl esters also Halal and RSPO Mass Balance certified; check each product page for which applies.
Related: See our Acetic Acid and Citric Acid collections, or browse all Acids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy carboxylic acids like stearic or oleic acid online?
Right here. We carry 11 carboxylic acids and fatty acid esters, including stearic, oleic, palmitic, lauric, propionic and butyric acid, in Lab, FCC and NF grades. Pick the acid and grade, check the price, and order with no quote needed for standard sizes. Most in stock orders ship within 1 to 2 business days.
What actually makes something a carboxylic acid?
Chemically, it's the carboxyl group, COOH, a carbon atom bonded to one oxygen by a double bond and to a hydroxyl group. That group makes the compound mildly acidic. Beyond that, the family varies a lot: short chain acids like butyric and propionic are pungent liquids, long chain fatty acids like stearic and palmitic are waxy solids, and oleic acid, with a double bond in its chain, stays liquid at room temperature.
Lab grade vs FCC vs NF, what's the difference?
Mostly purity and intended use. Lab Grade is solid everyday purity with no official standard, fine for industrial, cosmetic base or general reagent work. FCC Food Grade meets food chemical standards, the one to use for anything eaten or drunk. NF Grade meets National Formulary standards, relevant for pharmaceutical and personal care formulations. If your application involves food, drugs or supplements, go with FCC or NF rather than Lab Grade.
Which carboxylic acids are Kosher, Halal or RSPO certified?
Specific products, not the whole category. Our Lauric Acid and Propionic Acid are Kosher certified, with Propionic Acid also Halal. Isopropyl Myristate and Isopropyl Palmitate carry all three, Kosher, Halal and RSPO Mass Balance, since they're derived from palm sourced under that supply chain model. The plain stearic, oleic, palmitic and butyric acid products on this page carry no certification, so always check the specific product title.
Do I need a permit, and can these ship to a home address?
No purchase permit is required for any product in this category. Like the rest of our chemical catalog, though, these ship to business, lab and school addresses rather than residential ones. Each product page lists its specific shipping details, and Customer Care at 512-668-9918 can confirm before you order if you're unsure your address qualifies.
Which grade should I buy?
Match it to what you're making. Soap, candles, cosmetics or general industrial use: Lab Grade usually does it. Food or drinks: FCC Food Grade, like our Oleic Acid FCC or Propionic Acid FCC/Food Grade. Pharmaceutical or supplement formulations: NF Grade, like our Stearic Acid NF. Need a Kosher or Halal certified option: check the Lauric Acid, Propionic Acid, or either isopropyl ester specifically.
What's the difference between stearic acid and palmitic acid?
Chain length, mostly. Stearic acid has an 18 carbon chain, palmitic acid has 16, and commercial stearic acid is often sold as a natural mixture of the two since they occur together in most fats and oils. Both are saturated, waxy solids with very similar uses in soap, candles and cosmetics. If your formulation specifies one over the other, it's usually about melting point or hardness, since the longer stearic acid chain runs slightly firmer.
What are Isopropyl Myristate and Isopropyl Palmitate used for?
Both are esters, made by reacting isopropyl alcohol with myristic or palmitic acid, and both work as lightweight emollients in skin care, lotions and cosmetic formulations. They help a product spread smoothly and absorb without a greasy feel, which is why they show up in so many personal care products. Ours are derived from palm and carry Kosher, Halal and RSPO Mass Balance certification.
Can I buy carboxylic acids in bulk?
For some of them, yes. Several fatty acids on this page scale up through larger sizes right on the product page. For volumes beyond what's listed, or a recurring delivery schedule, request pricing through Bulk & Custom Chemicals. Autoship takes 10% off eligible repeat orders.
Industries That Use Carboxylic Acids
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