The structure of surface films. Part XIV.―Some esters of fatty acids. Eridence of flexibility in the long chains

Abstract

This paper reports the results of measurements on various esters of palmitic acid, C 15 H 31 COOR, where R is a straight hydrocarbon chain varying in length from 3 to 16 carbon atoms. The results afford perhaps the clearest evidence yet found, of a physical kind, for the flexibility of long hydrocarbon chains. A peculiar kind of flexibility is demanded, by the ordinary stereochemical theory, in the long chains, and these results are consistent with the degree of flexibility required. The esters used were: n -propy| palmitate, n -propy| palmitate, n -octyl palmitate, and n -hexadecyl palmitate, the esterifying group R having 3, 4, 8, and 16 carbon atoms respectively. Palmitic acid and methyl and ethyl palmitates have been examined previously.