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Adipocere or grave wax or mortuary wax is the insoluble residue of fatty acids from pre-existing fats contained in decomposing material such as a human cadaver. In Chemistry, especially Biochemistry, a fatty acid is a Carboxylic acid often with a long unbranched Aliphatic tail ( chain) which A cadaver or corpse is a dead Body. "Cadaver" is normally used as a more formal term for a body being used in medical training or research It is formed by the slow hydrolysis of fats in wet ground and can occur in both embalmed and untreated bodies. Hydrolysis is a Chemical reaction during which one or more water molecules are split into hydrogen and hydroxide ions which may go on to participate in further reactions Embalming, in most modern Cultures is the Art and Science of temporarily preserving human remains to forestall Decomposition It is generally believed to have first been discovered by the Frenchman Fourcroy in the 18th century; however, Sir Thomas Browne describes this substance in his discourse, Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial of 1658:

"In a Hydropicall body ten years buried in a Church-yard, we met with a fat concretion, where the nitre of the Earth, and the salt and lixivious liquor of the body, had coagulated large lumps of fat, into the consistence of the hardest castle-soap: wherof part remaineth with us. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Antoine François comte de Fourcroy ( June 15, 1755 &ndash December 16, 1809) was a French Chemist and a contemporary The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system Sir Thomas Browne ( October 19, 1605 &ndash October 19, 1682) was an English author of varied works which disclose his wide learning Discourse (L discursus, "running to and from" means either "written or spoken communication or debate" or "a formal discussion Hydriotaphia Urn Burial or a Discourse of the Sepulchral Urns lately found in Norfolk, is a work by Sir Thomas Browne, published in 1658 as the first "

In essence, in this process the usual dissolution of putrefaction is replaced by a permanent firm cast of fatty tissues. Putrefaction is the decomposition of animal Proteins especially by anaerobic microorganisms, described as Putrefying bacteria. This allows some estimation of body shape and facial features, and injuries are often well-preserved.

Adipocere inhibits the growth of bacteria, and can go some way to protecting a corpse against decomposition. The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have Decomposition (or spoilage) refers to the break down of tissue of a formerly living Organism into simpler forms of matter It begins to form within about a month of death, and can persist on the remains for centuries. Since it forms through hydrolysis, it does so more readily in humid environments or even underwater. Hydrolysis is a Chemical reaction during which one or more water molecules are split into hydrogen and hydroxide ions which may go on to participate in further reactions An exposed body is unlikely to form deposits of adipocere. The process of adipocere formation is also known as saponification. Saponification is the Hydrolysis of an Ester under basic conditions to form an Alcohol and the Salt of a Carboxylic acid

The Mütter Museum possesses the Soap Lady, the body of an extremely obese woman, which was almost entirely saponified. The Mütter Museum is a medical Museum located in the Center City area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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adipocere

-noun

  1. A brown, fatty, waxy substance (fatty acids) that forms on dead animal tissues in response to hydrolysis
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