Stearic Acid → Aluminum Stearate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a reaction flask was charged 12.0 g (0.0422 mole) of stearic acid, 220 g methanol and 0.40 g of tetraethylammonium chloride hydrate. Aluminum foil was used as the anode and a graphite rod as the cathode. After passing 2,780 coulombs of electricity, 0.56 g (0.021 mole) of aluminum was consumed. A greyish solid precipitated out during the reaction which was filtered, washed with methanol and dried. This gave a grey solid aluminum stearate containing 4.9% aluminum.

Provenance & Evidence