Colorless or pale yellow to red oily liquid with a lard like aroma and taste. After exposure to air, it can gradually oxidize and turn dark, and strong heating in air can cause decomposition. It is almost insoluble in water and miscible with ethanol, ether, benzene, and volatile and non-volatile oils. Oleic acid, along with other fatty acids, exists in the form of glycerides in all animal and vegetable fats. Oleic acid reacts with nitric acid to isomerize into trans isomer, with the melting point of trans oleic acid being 44-45 ℃; Hydrogenation yields stearic acid; Oxidation with potassium permanganate yields a mixture of nonanoic acid and azelaic acid.

Can be used as a lubricating and unblocking agent for drilling mud. The sodium or potassium salt of oleic acid is one of the components of soap. Pure sodium oleate has good cleaning ability, can be used as a surfactant such as emulsifier, and can be used to treat gallstones. Other metal salts of oleic acid can also be used in waterproof fabrics, lubricants, polishing agents, etc. Its barium salt can be used as a rodenticide.