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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Homeslice on October 28, 2021, 11:45:12 PM

Title: How can a substance a liquid a rom temperature be a powder?
Post by: Homeslice on October 28, 2021, 11:45:12 PM

I am trying to make some free fatty acids (there is a thread on this).  But I was just curious if I could buy them as well.  They need to be in their "free" form.

Take gamma linolenic acid for example.  Per wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-Linolenic_acid

It is a "colorless oil".  Got it.

But when I search for it, I see it referred to for sale as a "powder".  Take for example:

https://www.nutracapusa.com/lifes-gla-powder

That says its a "powdered form" of GLA.  Or here:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/gamma-Linolenic-acid-CAS-506-26_1600339794826.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normal_offer.d_title.50367edc7qK7Bj

Again its advertised as a "white powder". 

How can something that is supposed to be a colorless oil be a white powder?  I get if it was mixed with something else it could become a powder.  But something 99% pure?  How is that ever a powder?

Thanks!!!

Title: Re: How can a substance a liquid a rom temperature be a powder?
Post by: wildfyr on October 29, 2021, 05:00:24 PM

Depends on purity. Some oily materials can crystallize into solids at high enough purity. Also, are you sure some of these aren't being sold as their salts?

Title: Re: How can a substance a liquid a rom temperature be a powder?
Post by: Homeslice on October 29, 2021, 08:03:32 PM

Thank you wildfry!  Your question about the salts is EXACTLY what I am worried about!  That wikepidia I linked says GLP is a "colorless oil".  I'm assuming that is 100% GLA, since the whole page is talking about GLA, no?  Why would it be anything less than 100%?  And if it is a colorless oil at 100% purity and room temperature, how could it ever be a powdered solid at that same temperature? 

I suspect they ARE salts, or some other form of GLA, and that is what I am worried about, I want free form GLA only, no Na or anything else attached.  The CAS number on that wikipedia page is 506-26-3.  So that should be for pure free form GLA correct?   If an alibaba or other seller advertises GLA having that same CAS number, but it is a powdered solid at room temperature, and thus a salt or some other version, are they not falsely advertising?  I mean, GLA SALTS should not have that same CAS number, should they?

Thanks so much!!!

Title: Re: How can a substance a liquid a rom temperature be a powder?
Post by: Homeslice on November 04, 2021, 11:15:04 PM

*Ignore me, I am impatient*!!!