Question

Waxes are esters of:

• A. glycerol
• B. long chain alcohols
• C. glycerol and fatty acid
• D. long chain alcohols and long chain fatty acids

Answer 1

The correct option is D long chain alcohols and long chain fatty acids

Wax is an ester of fatty acid and an alcohol.

Wax esters are formed by combining one fatty acid with one fatty alcohol molecule. Alcohols have a hydroxyl ($H{O}^{-}$) group. Organic acids have a carboxyl ($COOH$) group. Alcohols and organic acids join to form esters. In wax esters, the hydroxyl groups of the fatty alcohols join the carboxyl groups of the fatty acids to form ester bonds.

$RCOOH+R^{{}^{\prime }}OH\to RCOO{R}^{{}^{\prime }}+H_{2}O$

So, waxes are esters of long-chain alcohols and long-chain fatty acids.

Hence, option $D$ is correct.