abietic acid

[ ab-ee-et-ik, ab- ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a yellow, crystalline, water-insoluble acid, C20H30O2, obtained from the resin of a species of pine: used chiefly in driers, varnishes, and soaps.

Origin of abietic acid

1
1860–65; <Latin abiet- (stem of abiēs) fir + -ic

Words Nearby abietic acid

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How to use abietic acid in a sentence

  • The constituents of rosin are chiefly (80-90%) abietic acid or its anhydride together with pinic and sylvic acids.

    Soap-Making Manual | E. G. Thomssen

British Dictionary definitions for abietic acid

abietic acid

/ (ˌæbɪˈɛtɪk) /


noun
  1. a yellowish powder occurring naturally as a constituent of rosin and used in lacquers, varnishes, and soap. Formula: C 19 H 29 COOH; melting pt: 173°C

Origin of abietic acid

1
C19: abietic, from Latin abiēt-, from abiēs silver fir (the acid originally being extracted from the resin)

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