C32H64O2

C32H64O2 is the molecular formula for a saturated, straight-chain fatty acid containing 32 carbon atoms and a carboxyl group. For saturated fatty acids with no double bonds, the general formula is CnH2nO2; with n = 32, the formula becomes C32H64O2.

The IUPAC name for this straight-chain fatty acid is dotriacontanoic acid, and in lipid shorthand it is often referred to as a 32:0 fatty acid. This designation emphasizes that the molecule has 32 carbon atoms and zero double bonds.

Natural occurrence and uses: Very-long-chain fatty acids of this length can be found in certain plant waxes and specialized microbial lipids. They are less common in typical dietary fats or mammalian cell membranes. Industrially, long-chain saturated fatty acids and their derivatives are used to produce waxes, lubricants, and esters for cosmetics and other specialty applications, where high melting points and hydrophobicity are advantageous.

Physical properties: The molecule has a high molecular weight—about 481 g/mol—and is usually solid at room temperature due to its long hydrophobic carbon chain. It is essentially insoluble in water and more compatible with nonpolar solvents. The exact physical properties can vary with isomeric structure, as branching can alter melting point and viscosity.

Isomers: The same empirical formula can correspond to multiple structural isomers, including the straight-chain dotriacontanoic acid and branched variants. The straight-chain form is the most common reference for this formula.

See also: long-chain fatty acids, very-long-chain fatty acids, and saturated fatty acids.