ricinoleic acid

chemical compound

Also known as: 12-hydroxy-cis-9-octadecenoic acid, 12-hydroxyloleic acid(Show More)

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Ricinoleic acid is an oily, unsaturated hydroxy fatty acid with the chemical formula C₁₈H₃₄O₃. It is a key component found in castor oil as a glyceride. Ricinoleic acid is an ester of glycerol and is also known as ricinolein, which is the primary constituent of castor oil. Esters derived from ricinoleic acid are important as plasticizers. When heated in the absence of air, ricinoleic acid breaks down into undecylenic acid and n-heptaldehyde.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

carboxylic acid
Unsaturated aliphatic acids
Ricinoleic acid, an unsaturated hydroxy acid (i.e., one containing an ―OH group), occurs in castor oil. When this acid is pyrolyzed (heated in the absence of air), it breaks down to give undecylenic acid and n-heptaldehyde.
Read More
Ricinoleic acid, an unsaturated hydroxy acid (i.e., one containing an ―OH group), occurs in castor oil. When this acid is pyrolyzed (heated in the absence of air), it breaks down to give undecylenic acid and n-heptaldehyde.
Read More