cetyl alcohol

Cetyl alcohol[1]
IUPAC name	Hexadecan-1-ol
Other names	Cetanol, Cetyl alcohol, Ethal, Ethol, Hexadecanol, Hexadecyl alcohol, Palmityl alcohol
Identifiers
CAS number	36653-82-4 Y
PubChem	2682
SMILES	OCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
InChI	1/C16H34O/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17/h17H,2-16H2,1H3
InChI key	BXWNKGSJHAJOGX-UHFFFAOYAS
ChemSpider ID	2581
Properties
Molecular formula	CH3(CH2)15OH
Molar mass	242.44 g/mol
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
Y (what is this?)  (verify) 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]

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. Production of cetyl alcohol from palm oil gives rise to one of its alternative names, palmityl alcohol.

Uses

Cetyl alcohol is used in the cosmetic industry as a surfactant 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

• Palmitate
• Palmitic acid

References