Scheme 2

10.3 Waxes

Waxes are esters of long chain carboxylic acids with long chain alcohols. For example, beeswax contains a 26 carbon carboxylic acid and a 30 carbon alcohol component, while carnauba wax has a 32 carbon carboxylic acid component and a 34 carbon alcohol component. The latter is an example for a hard wax, and is widely used as a car wax and in floor polishes (Figure 1).