fatty alcohol

A fatty alcohol is a type of alcohol that contains a long hydrocarbon chain. These compounds are often found as components of more complex lipid molecules, such as fats and phospholipids, rather than as free molecules in nature.1

Fatty alcohols can be obtained from natural sources like fats and waxes through a process called hydrolysis. For example, glycerol, which has three alcohol hydroxyl groups, is a by-product of soap manufacturing. Oleyl alcohol, an unsaturated compound found in marine animal oils, is another example. Some fatty alcohols, like amyl alcohol, can be produced industrially from petroleum-based hydrocarbons.2345

The chemical properties of fatty alcohols are influenced by their hydrocarbon chain and the presence of the hydroxyl group. This group can react with acids to form esters, a common bond in lipids.1