A mixture of solid alcohols consisting chiefly of n-hexadecanol. When produced synthetically it is less expensive and has a slight toxicity. In its natural pure form it is derived from cocnut oil as a fatty acid and is of a superior quality with no toxicity or allergic reactions.
Cetyl alcohol /ˈsiːtəl/, also known as hexadecan-1-ol and palmityl alcohol, is a C-16 fatty alcohol with the 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 (cetacea oil, from Latin: cetus, lit. 'whale', from Ancient Greek: κῆτος, romanized: kētos, lit. 'huge fish') from which it was first isolated.
Names | |
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Preferred IUPAC name
Hexadecan-1-ol | |
Other names
Cetanol, Cetyl alcohol, Ethal, Ethol, Hexadecanol, Hexadecyl alcohol, Palmityl alcohol
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Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.048.301 |
EC Number |
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KEGG | |
PubChem CID
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UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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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 in ether, benzene, and chloroform. Soluble in acetone. Slightly soluble in alcohol. |
log P | 7.25 |
Acidity (pKa) | 16.20 |
−183.5·10−6 cm3/mol | |
Refractive index (nD)
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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)
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5000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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