What is waxes and its function?

A wax is a simple lipid which is an ester of a long-chain alcohol and a fatty acid. The alcohol may contain from 12-32 carbon atoms. Waxes are found in nature as coatings on leaves and stems. The wax prevents the plant from losing excessive amounts of water.

What are the characteristics of paraffin wax?

Paraffin wax is mostly found as a white, odorless, tasteless, waxy solid, with a typical melting point between about 46 and 68 °C (115 and 154 °F), and a density of around 900 kg/m3. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in ether, benzene, and certain esters.

What is the structure of a wax?

What is the importance of wax?

The best known benefit of waxing is that the hair doesn’t grow back very quickly. Waxing removes the hairs from the root. With shaving, the hairs are cut off close to skin level. Even with a very close shave, this still leaves a considerable amount of the hair just below the surface ready to appear in a day or two.

What is the main source of wax?

Petroleum Waxes

Two of the most commonly used petroleum waxes are paraffin and microcrystalline. Both of these waxes are derived from crude oil, but have different properties. Paraffin wax is white in color and has no odor.

What type of bond is wax?

Wax is simply an ester molecule. It is of different types like paraffin wax, carnauba, beeswax etc. Since it is a type of hydrocarbon, it is classified as molecular solids. Major examples of molecular solids are organic compounds.

What are examples of waxes?

Example of wax esters are: dodecyl hexadecanoate (lauryl palmitate), octadecyl octadecanoate (stearyl stearate), etc. The acid or the alcohol chain can be unsaturated. In plants and some algae, phytol may be the alcohol component of was esters protecting leaves against dessication and parasites.

How many types of wax are there?

There are two different types: soft wax and hard wax. Although both do a good job of removing hair from the follicle, hard wax is better for smaller, more sensitive areas like your bikini line.

What is the role of waxes in lipids?

The main purpose of the waxes is presumed to be to give a water-proof layer to the feathers, but other functions have been suggested. Some of these lipids can also have a role as pheromones in sexual signalling.

What are waxes give examples?

Waxes such as paraffin wax or beeswax, and hard fats such as tallow are used to make candles, used for lighting and decoration. Another fuel type used in candle manufacturing includes soy. Soy wax is made by the hydrogenation process using soybean oil.

What is the role of wax in plant?

Plant waxes are generally the waterproofing components found in an amorphous layer on the outer surface of the plants. They are essential for plants as barrier protection against environmental stress.

What are waxes in organic chemistry?

Wax: (1) A lipid which is an ester of a fatty acid and a long chain alcohol (usually a reduced fatty acid). A wax (which contains just one fatty acid/alcohol ester functional group per molecule) should not be confused with a triglyceride (which contains three fatty acid/alcohol esters per molecule).

How many types of wax are there?

There are two different types: soft wax and hard wax. Although both do a good job of removing hair from the follicle, hard wax is better for smaller, more sensitive areas like your bikini line.

How wax is formed?

Earwax is produced by the ear to clean and protect itself. It’s secreted by glands in the skin that line the outer half of your ear canals. The wax and tiny hairs in these passages trap dust and other foreign particles that could damage deeper structures, such as your eardrum .

What type of bond is wax?

Wax is simply an ester molecule. It is of different types like paraffin wax, carnauba, beeswax etc. Since it is a type of hydrocarbon, it is classified as molecular solids. Major examples of molecular solids are organic compounds.