JAMB - Chemistry (2007 - No. 40)
Certain useful waxes are composed mainly of
amino acids
glycerols
alkanols
alkanoates
Selitys
Waxes are esters of higher fatty acids with long chain of monohydric alcohols. It is a simple lipid that is an ester of a long-chain alcohol and a fatty acid. The alcohol may contain around 12-32 carbon atoms. Waxes are found in nature as coatings on leaves and stems. The wax prevents the plant from losing excessive amounts of water.