DESCRIPTION

Linoleic Acid occurs as a colorless to pale yellow, oily liquid that is easily oxidized by air. It is an essential fatty acid and the major constituent of many vegetable oils, including cottonseed, soybean, peanut, corn, sunflower seed, safflower, poppy seed, and linseed. Its specific gravity is about 0.901, and its refractive index is about 1.469. It has a boiling point ranging from 225° to 230° and a melting point around −5°. One mL dissolves in 10 mL of petroleum ether. It is freely soluble in ether; soluble in absolute alcohol and in chloroform; and miscible with dimethylformamide, fat solvents, and oils. It is insoluble in water.