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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name Hexadecan-1-ol | |
| Other names Cetanol, Cetyl alcohol, Ethal, Ethol, Hexadecanol, Hexadecyl alcohol, Palmityl alcohol | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.048.301 |
| EC Number |
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| KEGG |
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| UNII | |
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| Properties | |
| C16H34O | |
| Molar mass | 242.447 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | White crystals or flakes |
| Odor | Very faint, waxy |
| Density | 0.811 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 49.3 °C (120.7 °F; 322.4 K) |
| Boiling point | 344 °C (651 °F; 617 K) |
| Insoluble | |
| Solubility | Very soluble inether,benzene, andchloroform. Soluble inacetone. Slightly soluble inalcohol. |
| logP | 7.25[2] |
| Acidity (pKa) | 16.20 |
| −183.5·10−6 cm3/mol | |
Refractive index (nD) | 1.4283 (79 °C) |
| Viscosity | 53 cP (75 °C) |
| Hazards | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Flash point | 185 °C (365 °F; 458 K) |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LD50 (median dose) | 5000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Cetyl alcohol/ˈsiːtəl/, also known ashexadecan-1-ol andpalmityl alcohol, is a C-16fatty alcohol with theformula CH3(CH2)15OH. At room temperature, cetyl alcohol takes the form of awaxy white solid or flakes. The namecetyl refers towhale oil (cetacea oil, fromLatin:cetus,lit. 'whale', fromAncient Greek:κῆτος,romanized: kētos,lit. 'huge fish')[3] from which it was first isolated.[4]
Cetyl alcohol was discovered in 1817 by the FrenchchemistMichel Chevreul when he heatedspermaceti, a waxy substance obtained fromsperm whale oil, with caustic potash (potassium hydroxide). Flakes of cetyl alcohol were left behind on cooling.[5] Modern production is based around thechemical reduction ofethyl palmitate.[6]
The etherchimyl alcohol, derived from cetyl alcohol and glycerol, is a component of somelipid membranes.
Cetyl alcohol is used in the cosmetic industry as anopacifier inshampoos, or as anemollient,emulsifier orthickening agent in the manufacture of skin creams and lotions.[7] It is also employed as alubricant for nuts and bolts, and is the active ingredient in some "liquid pool covers" (forming a non-volatile surface layer to reduce water evaporation, relatedlatent vaporization heat loss, and thus to retain heat in the pool). Moreover, it can also be used as a non-ionic co-surfactant inemulsion applications.[8]
People who haveeczema 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]
