Molekula
Cetyl alcohol
Supplying 4,500+ customers in over 80 countries
ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015 certified · Supplying laboratories and industry since 2000 · Listed pack sizes are a starting point — we manufacture, source and repack to the quantity you need
Cetyl alcohol is a long-chain fatty alcohol used as an emollient, thickener, and stabilizer in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is also employed in the formulation of creams, lotions, and ointments. Available in powder or flake form, it has a molecular weight of 242.44 g/mol, a CAS number of 36653-82-4, and a molecular formula of CH3(CH2)15OH. Store at ambient temperatures. Molekula supplies cetyl alcohol from research to bulk quantities with full documentation and ISO 9001:2015 traceability.
Example image for illustration only. Other packaging and pack sizes are available.
Pricing & pack sizes
These pack sizes aren't a limit. Molekula manufactures, sources and repacks to order — if you need 500 kg and only see 1 kg listed, . We quote from grams to multi-tonne.
Need a different size? Add the nearest pack and change the size in your basket — we price it at the same rate per unit.
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500 g — $79.80 per pack
Need a different quantity or pack?
Tell us how much you need and when — drums, IBCs, sacks or a one-off bulk lot. We'll manufacture or source it and come back with a price.
Prices exclude VAT/sales tax and shipping.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Purity | >96% |
| Hydroxyl value | 220 - 240 mgKOH/g |
| Iodine value (g I2/100g) | <1.5g12/100g |
| Saponification Value (mgKOH/g) | <1.0mgKOH/g |
| Acid Value (mg KOH/g) | <0.3mgKOH/g |
Storage & handling
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Storage Temperature | Ambient |
| Flash Point | 170 °C |
| Acidity | Neutral |
Literature values
Published physical properties of the substance, not batch specifications.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Solid or leaf-like crystals |
| Odour | Faint odor |
| Melting Point | 49.3 °C |
| Boiling Point | 334 °C at 760 mmHg |
| Water Solubility | 0.041 mg/L at 25 °C |
| Solubility (other solvents) | Slightly soluble in alcohol; soluble in acetone; very soluble in ether, benzene, chloroform |
| Vapour Pressure | 6 × 10⁻⁶ mmHg at 25 °C |
| Refractive Index | 1.4283 |
| pKa | pKa = 16.20 |
Source: PubChem CID 2682 (HSDB)
Identification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | 21879619 |
| CAS Number | 36653-82-4 |
| IUPAC Name | hexadecan-1-ol |
| EC Number | 253-149-0 |
| Molecular Formula | CH3(CH2)15OH |
| Molecular Weight | 242.44 |
| Exact Mass | 242.261 |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO |
| InChIKey | BXWNKGSJHAJOGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| InChI | InChI=1S/C16H34O/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17/h17H,2-16H2,1H3 |
| PubChem CID | 2682 |
| REACH Code | Y113 |
| TSCA Listed | Yes |
| Tariff Code | 29051700 |
Safety & GHS
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Health Hazard
GHS07
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Hazardous to the Environment
GHS09
Hazard statements
- H315 Causes skin irritation
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
- H400 Very toxic to aquatic life
- H411 Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Precautionary statements
- P273 Avoid release to the environment
- P280 Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection
- P301+312 IF SWALLOWED: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell
- P303+361 IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse with water/shower
- P305+351+338 IF IN EYES: Rinse with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing
- P308+313 IF exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention
Documents
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish.
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) by batch
Enter a lot or batch number to retrieve the CoA for that specific batch. We can generate one from spec data if no PDF is on file.
Synonyms
- 1-Hexadecanol
- Cetaffine
- Cetanol
- Cetylol
- Hexadecan-1-ol
- Hexadecyl alcohol
- n-1-Hexadecanol
- n-Cetyl alcohol
- N-Hexadecanol
- Palmityl alcohol
Frequently asked questions
What is cetyl alcohol used for?
Cetyl alcohol is commonly used as an emollient, thickening agent, and stabilizer in cosmetics and personal care products.
What is the chemical formula and molecular weight of cetyl alcohol?
The formula is CH3(CH2)15OH with a molecular weight of 242.44 g/mol.
How should cetyl alcohol be stored?
Store at ambient temperature, away from moisture and direct sunlight.
What grade of cetyl alcohol does Molekula supply?
Molekula supplies cetyl alcohol in technical grade.
Can Molekula supply cetyl alcohol in bulk?
Yes, Molekula can supply cetyl alcohol in bulk quantities upon request.
What documentation comes with a purchase of cetyl alcohol?
Each order includes a Certificate of Analysis and Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
Ready to order or need a custom pack?
Tell us the product, grade, and quantity — Molekula usually responds within one working day with pricing and lead time.