Waxes are a class of chemical compounds that are formable around room temperature. Typically, they are harder, less greasy and more brittle than fats, and show extreme resistance to moisture, oxidation and microbial degradation.
Characteristically they melt above 45°C yielding low viscosity liquids. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in organic, non-polar solvents.
Natural waxes consist mainly of complex mixtures of esters of fatty acids and long chain alcohols and free forms of these molecules, whereas synthetic waxes constitute long-chain hydrocarbons lacking functional groups. Natural waxes are synthesised biochemically by numerous plants and animals. Those of animal origin typically consist of wax esters derived from a variety of carboxylic acids and fatty alcohols. Those of plant origin additionally contain characteristic mixtures of un-esterified hydrocarbons. The chemical composition depends not only on the species, but also on geographic location of the organism. Typically, because these waxes are complex mixtures, naturally produced waxes are softer and melt at lower temperatures than their pure components would.
The most commonly known animal wax is beeswax, but other insects secrete waxes as well. A major component of beeswax is the ester myricyl palmitate which is an important constituent allowing for the construction of the bees’ honeycombs. Its melting point is 62°C-65°C.
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