Cetyl alcohol
<templatestyles src="Chembox/styles.css"/>
Template:Chembox image cellTemplate:Chembox image cellTemplate:Chembox AllOtherNamesTemplate:Chembox headerbarTemplate:Chembox IndexlistTemplate:Chembox JmolTemplate:Chembox ChEMBLTemplate:Chembox ECHATemplate:Chembox E numberTemplate:Chembox IUPHAR ligandTemplate:Chembox UNIITemplate:Chembox CompToxTemplate:Chembox headerbarTemplate:Chembox SolubilityInWaterTemplate:Chembox HazardsTemplate:Chembox Datapage checkTemplate:Yesno| Template:Longitem | Template:Unbulleted list |
| ChEBI | Template:Unbulleted list |
| ChemSpider | Template:Unbulleted list |
| DrugBank | Template:Unbulleted list |
| EC Number | Template:Unbulleted list |
| KEGG | Template:Unbulleted list |
| Template:Longitem | Template:Unbulleted list |
| RTECS number | Template:Unbulleted list |
| Script error: No such module "collapsible list". | |
| Script error: No such module "collapsible list". | |
| Template:Longitem | Template:Chembox Elements/molecular formula |
| Molar mass | Template:Chem molar mass |
| Appearance | White crystals or flakes |
| Odor | Very faint, waxy |
| Density | 0.811 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | Template:Chembox CalcTemperatures |
| Boiling point | Template:Chembox CalcTemperatures |
| Solubility | Very soluble in ether, benzene, and chloroform. Soluble in acetone. Slightly soluble in alcohol. |
| log P | 7.25[2] |
| Acidity (pKa) | 16.20 |
| Template:Longitem | −183.5·10−6 cm3/mol |
| Template:Longitem | 1.4283 (79 °C) |
| Viscosity | 53 cP (75 °C) |
Template:Chembox Footer/tracking container onlyScript error: No such module "TemplatePar".Template:Short description
Cetyl alcohol Template:IPAc-en, also known as hexadecan-1-ol and palmityl alcohol, is a C-16 fatty alcohol with the formula CH3(CH2)15OH. At room temperature, cetyl alcohol takes the form of a waxy white solid or flakes. The name cetyl refers to whale oil (cetacea oil, from Template:Langx, from Template:Langx)[3] from which it was first isolated.[4]
Preparation
Cetyl alcohol was discovered in 1817 by the French chemist Michel Chevreul when he heated spermaceti, a waxy substance obtained from sperm whale oil, with caustic potash (potassium hydroxide). Flakes of cetyl alcohol were left behind on cooling.[5] Modern production is based around the chemical reduction of ethyl palmitate.[6]
Occurrence and uses
The ether chimyl alcohol, derived from cetyl alcohol and glycerol, is a component of some lipid membranes.
Cetyl alcohol is used in the cosmetic industry as an opacifier in shampoos, or as an emollient, emulsifier or thickening agent in the manufacture of skin creams and lotions.[7] It is also employed as a lubricant for nuts and bolts, and is the active ingredient in some "liquid pool covers" (forming a non-volatile surface layer to reduce water evaporation, related latent vaporization heat loss, and thus to retain heat in the pool). Moreover, it can also be used as a non-ionic co-surfactant in emulsion applications.[8]
Side effects
People who have eczema can be sensitive to cetyl alcohol,[9][10] though this may be due to impurities rather than cetyl alcohol itself.[11] However, cetyl alcohol is sometimes included in medications used for the treatment of eczema.[12]
Related compounds
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 2020.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "navbox".