Long-Chain Alcohol
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A Long-Chain Alcohol is an alcohol compound that contains a long hydrocarbon chain, typically ranging from 12 to 26 carbon atoms, and is often derived from natural fats and oils.
- AKA: Fatty Alcohol
- Context:
- It can range from being a solid to a liquid at room temperature, depending on the chain length and degree of saturation.
- It can be used as an intermediate in the production of surfactants and detergents.
- It can be used in the synthesis of esters for use in fragrances and flavorings.
- It can be used as an emulsifier and thickener in personal care products.
- It can be used as a lubricant in various industrial applications.
- It can be used in the production of plastics and rubber.
- ...
- Example(s):
- a Glycerol molecule, which is a component of fats and oils and used in food and pharmaceutical products.
- a Cholesterol molecule, a complex alcohol that is an essential component of cell membranes and a precursor for the synthesis of steroid hormones.
- a Cetyl Alcohol molecule used in cosmetics and personal care products.
- a Stearyl Alcohol molecule used as an emulsifier and thickener in personal care products.
- a Dodecanol molecule, used to manufacture surfactants and lubricants.
- a 1-Docosanol molecule, used in pharmaceuticals as an antiviral agent.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- Short-Chain Alcohols, which have shorter hydrocarbon chains and different properties.
- Medium-Chain Alcohols, which have intermediate chain lengths and properties.
- See: Primary Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Oleyl Alcohol, Alcohol Group.
References
2024
- (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fatty_alcohol Retrieved:2024-8-5.
- Fatty alcohols (or long-chain alcohols) are usually high-molecular-weight, straight-chain primary alcohols, but can also range from as few as 4–6 carbons to as many as 22–26, derived from natural fats and oils. The precise chain length varies with the source. Some commercially important fatty alcohols are lauryl, stearyl, and oleyl alcohols. They are colourless oily liquids (for smaller carbon numbers) or waxy solids, although impure samples may appear yellow. Fatty alcohols usually have an even number of carbon atoms and a single alcohol group (–OH) attached to the terminal carbon. Some are unsaturated and some are branched. They are widely used in industry. As with fatty acids, they are often referred to generically by the number of carbon atoms in the molecule, such as "a C12 alcohol", that is an alcohol having 12 carbons, for example dodecanol.