Definition of "palmitin" [pal•mi•tin]

• The glyceryl ester, C3H5(OOC16H31)3, of palmitic acid, found in palm oil and animal fats and used to manufacture soap. Also called tripalmitin. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The reactions with stearin and palmitin (of which tallow chiefly consists) and with olein (found largely in olive and cotton-seed oils) are as follows: --"
• "Of the above the most important from a soap-maker's point of view are stearin, palmitin, olein and laurin, as these predominate in the fats and oils generally used in that industry."
• "After melting and solidifying, palmitin shows no crystalline fracture; when heated to 46° C. it melts to a liquid which becomes solid on further heating, again liquefying when 61. 7° C. is reached, and becoming cloudy, with separation of crystalline particles."