behenic acid

noun

be·​hen·​ic acid

bə-ˈhe-nik-,

-ˈhē-

: a crystalline fatty acid CH₃(CH₂)₂₀COOH occurring in the form of esters especially in the fats and oils from seeds (such as ben oil, peanut oil) and in some waxes

called also docosanoic acid

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary behen (variant of ben entry 7) + -ic; probably originally formed as French béhénique

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