Palmitic acid World War II to produce napalm. The word "napalm" is derived from the words naphthenic acid and palmitic acid. Palmitic acid was discovered by Edmond Frémy in 1840, in saponified palm oil. This remains the primary industrial route for its production, with the triglycerides (fats) in palm oil being hydrolysed by high temperature water (above ), and the resulting mixture fractionally distilled to give the pure product. Palmitic acid is naturally produced by a wide range of other plants and organisms, typically at low levels. It is naturally present in butter, cheese, milk, and meat, as well as cocoa butter,
The Slaver Weapon alien device, which the Kzinti immediately suspect is a weapon. The weapon passes hands several times between the Federation and Kzinti crews, during which time Sulu discovers a total conversion beam setting. The Kzinti recapture all three Federation personnel and the weapon. As the Kzinti explore the device's many settings, they discover a war computer which starts talking to them. After the Kzinti fail to provide several code words and ask about the total conversion beam setting, the weapon concludes they are enemies and directs them to what it claims is the setting that they want but which is actually