Margaric acid (IUPAC name Heptadecanoic acid) is a
saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula CH3(CH2)15COOH.
The name comes from the French adjective margarique
(itself from margarine, from Greek μαργαροπ (margaron), 'pearl, pearl white') + acid. Because it has an odd number of carbon atoms - does not occur
in nature.