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,
Incendiary balloon strung below. The prevailing wind blowing in from the Mediterranean Sea, propels the balloons inland from Gaza into Israel. As of 10 July 2018, incendiary kites and balloons started 678 fires in Israel, burning of woodland, of agricultural crops, as well as open fields. Some balloons landed in school yards in the Eshkol Regional Council and the Sdot Negev Regional Council, and no one was injured. One balloon cluster reached Beersheba, some from the Gaza strip. Incendiary balloon An incendiary balloon (or balloon bomb) is a balloon inflated with a lighter than air gas such as hot air, hydrogen, or