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Cetyl alcohol
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<p>Cetyl alcohol /ˈsiːtəl/, also known as hexadecan-1-ol and palmityl alcohol, is a C-16 <a href="/facts/Fatty_alcohol/VyaF3Wm5">fatty alcohol</a> with the <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">formula</a> CH3(CH2)15OH. At room temperature, cetyl alcohol takes the form of a <a href="/facts/Wax/MAXhjzNh">waxy</a> white solid or flakes. The name cetyl refers to <a href="/facts/Whale_oil/zRP8Bd4h">whale oil</a> (<i>cetacea</i> oil, from <a href="/facts/Latin_language/pM3Kge85">Latin</a>: <i><a href="/facts/Cetus_(mythology)/3KTc8r8v">cetus</a></i>, <a href="/facts/Literal_translation/0cF1oFRh">lit.</a> '<a href="/facts/Whale/EMJBgXfb">whale</a>', from <a href="/facts/Ancient_Greek_language/LIK7NlUh">Ancient Greek</a>: κῆτος, <a href="/facts/Romanization_of_Ancient_Greek/KTELT9Aq">romanized</a>: <i><a href="/facts/Cetus_(mythology)/3KTc8r8v">kētos</a></i>, <a href="/facts/Literal_translation/0cF1oFRh">lit.</a> 'huge fish') from which it was first isolated. </p>