Ferric stearate or Iron(III) stearate is a metal-organic compound, a salt of iron and stearic acid with the chemical formula . The compound is classified as a metallic soap, i.e. a metal derivative of a fatty acid. It forms an orange-red or brown hygroscopic powder.
Synthesis Iron(III) stearate can be prepared by reacting stearic acid with iron oxide.
It can also be prepared by treating stearic acid with iron chloride in presence of DABCO.
Uses The compound is used as a catalyst in organic synthesis, a reagent in analytical chemistry, and a stabilizer in biochemistry.
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