{{Expand German, Wachssäuren, date=June 2016
The wax acids are a subgroup of saturated unbranched
alkanoic acids
In organic chemistry, a carboxylic acid is an organic acid that contains a carboxyl group () attached to an R-group. The general formula of a carboxylic acid is or , with R referring to the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or other group. Carboxylic ...
. The frontier between
fatty acids
In chemistry, particularly in biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an unbranched chain of an even number of carbon atoms, f ...
and wax acids is fluid. It often begins at 22 carbon atoms.
The members are:
*
Behenic acid
Behenic acid (also docosanoic acid) is a carboxylic acid, the saturated fatty acid with formula C21H43COOH. In appearance, it consists of white solid although impure samples appear yellowish.
Sources
At 9%, it is a major component of ben oil (or ...
C-22
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Lignoceric acid
Lignoceric acid, or tetracosanoic acid, is the saturated fatty acid with formula C23H47COOH. It is found in wood tar, various cerebrosides, and in small amounts in most natural fats. The fatty acids of peanut oil contain small amounts of lignoc ...
C-24
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Cerotic acid
Cerotic acid, or hexacosanoic acid, is a 26-carbon long-chain saturated fatty acid with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)24COOH. It is most commonly found in beeswax and carnauba wax. It is a white solid, although impure samples appear yellowish.
Th ...
C-26
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Montanic acid
Montanic acid is a saturated fatty acid isolated and detected mainly in montan wax. It also occurs in beeswax and Chinese wax. Montanic acid ethylene glycol esters and glycerol esters are used as protective layer on fruit skins and coating on foo ...
C-28
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Melissic acid
Melissic acid (or triacontanoic acid) is the organic compound with the formula CH3(CH2)28CO2H. It is classified as a very long chain fatty acid, a subset of saturated fatty acids. It is a white solid that is soluble in organic solvents. Melissic ...
C-30
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Lacceroic acid
Lacceroic acid (or dotriacontanoic acid) is a saturated fatty acid.
Sources
Lacceroic acid can be derived by saponification of lacceryl lacceroate or by oxidation of 1-Dotriacontanol (lacceryl) and purification of the product. It can also be ...
C-32
*
Geddic acid
Geddic acid, or tetratriacontanoic acid, is a 34-carbon-long carboxylic acid and saturated fatty acid. It occurs in cotton, carnauba, candelilla wax, and in ghedda wax (wild beeswax), from which its common name is derived.
See also
* List of ...
C-34
Alkanoic acids