Cetyl alcohol

Cetyl alcohol
Cetyl alcohol[1]
Identifiers
CAS number 36653-82-4 YesY
PubChem 2682
ChemSpider 2581 YesY
UNII 936JST6JCN YesY
KEGG D00099 YesY
ChEBI CHEBI:16125 YesY
ChEMBL CHEMBL706 YesY
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula C16H34O
Molar mass 242.44 g mol−1
Appearance White crystals
Density 0.811 g/cm³
Melting point

49 °C, 322 K, 120 °F

Boiling point

344 °C, 617 K, 651 °F

Solubility in water Insoluble
 YesY alcohol (verify) (what is: YesY/N?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Cetyl alcohol, also known as 1-hexadecanol and palmityl alcohol, is a fatty alcohol with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)15OH. At room temperature, cetyl alcohol takes the form of a waxy white solid or flakes.

The name cetyl derives from the whale oil (Latin: cetus) from which it was first isolated.[2]

Contents

History

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.[3]

Production

With the demise of commercial whaling, cetyl alcohol is no longer primarily produced from whale oil but instead either as an end-product of the petroleum industry, or produced from vegetable oils such as palm oil and coconut oil.

Uses

Cetyl alcohol is used in the cosmetic industry as a opacifier in shampoos, or as an emollient, emulsifier or thickening agent in the manufacture of skin creams and lotions.[4] It is also employed as a lubricant for nuts and bolts.

Related compounds

References

  1. ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 2020.
  2. ^ Nordegren, Thomas (2002). The A-Z Encyclopedia of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Universal Publishers. p. 165. ISBN 158112404X. 
  3. ^ Booth, James Curtis (1862). The Encyclopedia of Chemistry, Practical and Theoretical. p. 429. 
  4. ^ Smolinske, Susan C (1992). Handbook of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Excipients. CRC Press. pp. 75–76. ISBN 084933585X. 

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cetyl alcohol — n a waxy crystalline alcohol C16H34O obtained by the saponification of spermaceti or the hydrogenation of palmitic acid and used esp. in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations and in making detergents * * * [NF] a solid fatty alcohol prepared… …   Medical dictionary

  • cetyl alcohol — /seet l/ a white, crystalline, water insoluble solid, C16H34O, used chiefly as an emollient in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Also, cetylic alcohol /si til ik/. Also called ethal. [1870 75; CET + YL (so called because some of its compounds are… …   Universalium

  • cetyl alcohol — ethal eth al, n. [Ether + alcohol: cf. F. [ e]thal.] (Chem.) A white waxy solid, {C16H33.OH}; called also {cetyl alcohol} and {cetylic alcohol}. See {Cetylic alcohol}, under {Cetylic}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cetyl alcohol — Cetylic Ce*tyl ic, a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, spermaceti. [1913 Webster] {Cetylic alcohol} (Chem.), a white, waxy, crystalline solid, obtained from spermaceti, and regarded as homologous with ordinary, or ethyl, alcohol;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cetyl alcohol — cetilo alkoholis statusas T sritis chemija formulė H(CH₂)₁₆OH atitikmenys: angl. cetyl alcohol rus. цетиловый спирт ryšiai: sinonimas – 1 heksadekanolis …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • cetyl alcohol — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary cet (from Latin cetus whale) + yl; from its occurrence in spermaceti Date: 1863 a waxy crystalline alcohol C16H34O obtained by the saponification of spermaceti or the hydrogenation of palmitic… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cetyl alcohol — noun The waxy aliphatic primary alcohol 1 hexadecanol, used in cosmetics etc …   Wiktionary

  • cetyl alcohol — noun : a waxy crystalline solid alcohol C16H33OH found in the form of palmitate in spermaceti and used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations (as creams and lotions) and in making detergents called also 1 hexadecanol …   Useful english dictionary

  • cetyl alcohol — ce′tyl al′cohol [[t]ˈsit l[/t]] n. chem. a white crystalline water insoluble solid, C16H34O, used chiefly as an emollient in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals • Etymology: 1870–75; < Lcēt(us)whale; from its being found in spermaceti …   From formal English to slang

  • Cetyl palmitate — Identifiers CAS number 540 10 3  …   Wikipedia

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