Wax
Also known as: waxes · waxy
- 1Most waxes have melting points above 40 °C or 104 °F.
- 2They are insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar organic solvents like benzene.
- 3Waxes are composed of higher alkanes and lipids.
- 4They occur naturally in both plants and animals, as well as in petroleum.
Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic solids that are malleable near ambient temperatures.
Connections1
material used in the wings of Daedalus
Daedalus fashioned wings for himself and Icarus using feathers held together by wax, which famously melted when Icarus flew too close to the sun.
Waxes are a diverse category of organic compounds characterized by their lipophilic nature and malleability at ambient temperatures.
Ceroline brand wax for floors and furniture, first half of 20th century. From the Museo del Objeto del Objeto collection.Wikimedia Commons: File:MODOCeroline.jpgCommercial honeycomb foundation, made by pressing beeswax between patterned metal rollersWikimedia Commons: File:Beeswax_foundation.jpgCetyl palmitate, a typical wax esterWikimedia Commons: File:Cetyl-palmitate.svg These substances are typically solid at room temperature but transition into low-viscosity liquids when heated above their melting points.