Page:EB1911 - Volume 20.djvu/73

Acids

		Boiling Point		Melting Point. ° C.	Characteristic of
		mm. Pressure.	° C.
I. Acids of the Acetic series C𝑛H2𝑛O2—
Ficocerylic acid	C13H26O2	. .	. .	57	Gondang wax
Myristic acid	C14H28O2	100	250·5	53·8	Wool wax
Palmitic acid	C16H32O2	100	271·5	62·62	Beeswax, spermaceti
Carnaübic acid	C24H48O2	. .	. .	72·5	Carnaüba wax, wool wax
Pisangcerylic acid	C24H48O2	. .	. .	71	Pisang wax
Cerotic acid	C26H52O2	. .	. .	77·8	Beeswax, wool wax, insect wax
Melissic acid	C30H60O2	. .	. .	91	Beeswax
Psyllostearylic acid	C30H60O2	. .	. .	94–95	Psylla wax
II. Acids of the Acrylic or Oleic series C𝑛H2𝑛−2 O2—
Physetoleic acid	C16H30O2	. .	. .	30	${\Big \}}$Sperm oil
Doeglic acid (?)	C19H36O2	. .	. .	. .
III. Hydroxylated acids of the series C𝑛H2𝑛O3—
Lanopalmic acid	C16H32O3	. .	. .	87–88	Wool wax
Cocceric acid	C31H62O3	. .	. .	92–93	Cochineal wax
IV. Dihydroxylated acids of the series C𝑛H2𝑛O4—
Lanoceric acid	C30H60O4	. .	. .	104–105	Wool wax

 

Alcohols

		Boiling Point		Melting Point. ° C.	Characteristic of
		mm. Pressure.	° C.
I. Alcohols of the Ethane series C𝑛H2𝑛+2O—
Pisangceryl alcohol	C16H34O	. .	. .	78	Pisang wax
Cetyl alcohol (Ethal)	C16H34O	760	344	50	${\Big \}}$Spermaceti
Octodecyl alcohol	C18H38O	15	210·5	59
Carnaübyl alcohol	C24H50O	. .	. .	68–69	Wool wax
Ceryl alcohol	C26H54O	. .	. .	79	Chinese wax, opium wax, wool fat
Myricyl (Melissyl) alcohol	C30H62O	. .	. .	85–88	Beeswax, Carnaüba wax
Psyllostearyl alcohol	C33H68O	. .	. .	68–70	Psylla wax
II. Alcohols of the Allylic series C𝑛H2𝑛O—
Lanolin alcohol	C12H24O	. .	. .	102–104	Wool wax
III. Alcohols of the series C𝑛H2𝑛−6O—
Ficoceryl alcohol	C17H28O	. .	. .	198	Gondang wax
IV. Alcohols of the Glycolic series C𝑛H2𝑛+2O2—
Cocceryl alcohol	C30H62O2	. .	. .	101–104	Cochineal wax
V. Alcohols of the Cholesterol series—
Cholesterol	C26H44O	. .	. .	148·4–150·8	${\Big \}}$Wool wax
Isocholesterol	C26H44O	. .	. .	137–138

Spermaceti consists practically of cetyl palmitate, Chinese wax of ceryl palmitate. The other waxes are of more complex composition, especially so wool wax.

The waxes can be classified similarly to the oils and fats as follows:—

 I. Liquid waxes.

II. Solid waxes.

A. Vegetable waxes.

B. Animal waxes.

The table enumerates the most important waxes:—

Waxes

Name of Wax.	Source.	Iodine Value.	Principal Use.
	Liquid Waxes.
Sperm oil	Physeter macrocephalus	81–90	Lubricant
Arctic sperm oil (Bottlenose oil)	Hyperoödon rostratus	67–82	Lubricant
Vegetable Waxes—	Solid Waxes.
Carnaüba wax	Corypha cerifera	13	Polishes. Phonograph mass
Animal Waxes—
Wool wax	Ovis aries	102	Ointment
Beeswax	Apis mellifica	8·11	Candles, polishes
Spermaceti (Cetin)	Physeter macrocephalus	0–4	Candles, surgery
Insect wax, Chinese wax	Coccus ceriferus	0–1·4	Candles, polishes, sizes

There are only two liquid waxes known, sperm oil and arctic sperm oil (bottlenose-whale oil), formerly always classed together with the animal oils. In their physical properties the natural waxes simulate the fatty oils and fats. They behave similarly to solvents; and in their liquid condition leave a grease spot on paper. An important property of waxes is that of easily forming emulsions with water, so that large quantities of water can be incorporated with them (lanolin).

The liquid waxes occur in the blubber of the sperm whale, and in the head cavities of those whales which yield spermaceti; this latter is obtained by cooling the crude oil obtained from the head cavities. Vegetable waxes appear to be very widely distributed throughout the vegetable kingdom, and occur mostly as a very thin film covering leaves and also fruits. A few only are found in sufficiently large quantities to be of commercial importance. So far carnaüba wax is practically the only vegetable wax which is of importance in the world’s markets. The animal waxes are widely distributed amongst the insects, the most important being beeswax, which is collected in almost all parts of the world. An exceptional position is occupied by wool wax, the main constituent of the natural wool fat which covers the hair of sheep, and is obtained as a by-product in scouring the raw wool. Wool fat is now being purified on a large scale and brought into commerce, under the name of lanolin, as an