C20H40O2

C20H40O2 is the molecular formula for a saturated fatty acid with twenty carbon atoms and two oxygen atoms, specifically a carboxylic acid. This formula represents a class of compounds, and the most common and widely recognized molecule with this formula is arachidic acid. Arachidic acid is a saturated fatty acid that can be found in various plant and animal fats. It is a waxy solid at room temperature.

The physical and chemical properties of compounds with the C20H40O2 formula are largely dictated by the long hydrocarbon chain. As a carboxylic acid, it possesses a carboxyl group (-COOH) at one end, which gives it acidic properties, though it is a weak acid. The long, saturated hydrocarbon tail makes the molecule hydrophobic, meaning it repels water. It is soluble in nonpolar organic solvents.

Arachidic acid, the primary example, has an IUPAC name of eicosanoic acid. It is often found esterified with glycerol in triglycerides, which are a major form of fat storage in organisms. It is present in some vegetable oils, such as peanut oil (hence the name "arachidic" from Arachis hypogaea, the peanut plant), and also in animal fats. Industrially, it can be obtained through the hydrolysis of fats and oils or synthesized. Its applications are typically related to its surfactant properties and as a component in lubricants and waxes.