Waxes are esters of long chain fatty acids with long chain monohydric alcohols. Though devoid of glycerol esters, they have only one ester linkage. Natural waxes are (bees wax, spermaceti, etc.) mixtures of different materials. Bees wax is a common example which is an ester of myricyl alcohol
With palmitic acid, and hence called myricyl palmitate (C₁₅H₃₁COO C₃₀H₃₃). Spermaceti, a substance formed in the nasal cavity of the sperm whale is an ester of palmitic acid with cetyl alcohol (C₁₅H₃₁COO C₁₆H₃₃). Waxes are commercially important because they are used in making cosmetics, ointments, polish, etc.

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