palmityl alcohol


ce·tyl al·co·hol

(sē'tăl al'kŏ-hol), The 16-carbon alcohol corresponding to palmitic acid, so called because it is isolated from among the hydrolysis products of spermaceti; it is used as an emulsifying aid and in the preparation of "washable" (oil in water emulsions) ointment bases. Synonym(s): 1-hexadecanol, palmityl alcohol