Knowra Waxes Waxes Waxes are hydrophobic substances commonly composed of long-chain fatty acids joined to long-chain alcohols. They form water-resistant coatings in organisms and are used in products such as candles and polishes.
Fatty acid : A carboxylic acid with a hydrocarbon chain, found in fats, oils, and many biological molecules. Long-chain fatty acids supply the acid portion of many wax esters.
Plant cuticle : The wax-containing outer covering that limits water loss from the aerial surfaces of plants. Cuticular waxes help the plant cuticle resist water loss and environmental damage.
Esterification : A reaction in which an alcohol and a carboxylic acid form an ester, often releasing water. Esterification joins the fatty-acid and alcohol components of many waxes.
Triglyceride : A lipid consisting of glycerol esterified with three fatty acids. Triglycerides are energy-storage fats, unlike the usual single-chain ester structure of waxes.
Fatty alcohol : An alcohol with a long hydrocarbon chain, occurring naturally and used in industrial products. Long-chain fatty alcohols join fatty acids to form common wax esters.
Beeswax : A natural wax produced by honey bees, chiefly to construct the cells of their honeycombs. Beeswax is a familiar animal wax used in combs, candles, and coatings.
Intermolecular forces : Attractive or repulsive interactions between separate molecules. Interactions between long chains influence wax cohesion, hardness, and melting behavior.
Sterol : A steroid alcohol characterized by a four-ring carbon framework and a hydroxyl group. Sterols are ring-shaped lipids rather than long-chain fatty-acid esters.
Ester : An organic compound containing a carbonyl group bonded to an oxygen that is bonded to another carbon group. Many waxes are esters formed by combining fatty acids and long-chain alcohols.
Carnauba wax : A hard plant wax obtained from the leaves of the carnauba palm. Its hardness and gloss make carnauba wax useful in polishes and coatings.
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