View source for Spermaceti

[[Image:Spermaceti.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Processing of Spermaceti]]

'''Spermaceti''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]] ''sperma'', seed, and  [[Latin language|Latin]] ''cetus'', whale) sometimes erroneously called ''parmaceti'' is a [[wax]] present in the head cavities of the [[sperm whale]] (''Physeter macrocephalus''). Spermaceti is extracted from [[whale oil|sperm oil]] by crystallisation at 6&nbsp;°C, when treated by pressure and a chemical solution of caustic [[alkali]]. Spermaceti forms brilliant white crystals that are hard but oily to the touch, and are devoid of taste or smell, making it very useful as an ingredient in cosmetics, leatherworking, and lubricants. The substance was also used in making [[candle]]s of a standard [[Photometry (optics)|photometric]] value, in the dressing of fabrics, and as a pharmaceutical [[excipient]], especially in [[cerate]]s and [[ointment]]s.

Originally mistaken for the whales' [[sperm]] (hence the name), spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head and connected to its nasal passage, among [[Sperm_whale#Spermaceti_functions|other functions]].

== Properties ==

Spermaceti is insoluble in water, very slightly soluble in cold [[ethanol|alcohol]], but easily dissolved in [[diethyl ether|ether]], [[chloroform]], [[carbon disulfide]], and boiling [[ethanol|alcohol]]. Spermaceti consists principally of [[palmitate|cetyl palmitate]] (the [[ester]] of [[cetyl alcohol]] and [[palmitic acid]]), C<sub>15</sub>H<sub>31</sub>COO-C<sub>16</sub>H<sub>33</sub>.

A botanical alternative to spermaceti is a derivative of jojoba oil, [[jojoba ester|jojoba esters]], C<sub>19</sub>H<sub>41</sub>COO-C<sub>20</sub>H<sub>41</sub>, a solid wax which is chemically and physically very similar to spermaceti and may be used in many of the same applications. Esters of cetyl alcohol and jojoba oil are used as a substitute for spermaceti.

== Spermaceti processing ==
{{further|[[Sperm whaling]]}}
Spermaceti was gathered during whaling and was considered a valuable resource by [[whaling|whalers]] due to the high price that could be fetched for it. The sperm whale's head was either brought on deck or lashed to the side of the ship where the whalemen would cut a hole in the case. The spermaceti could then be drawn out by bucket or a whaleman would enter the hole and manually remove the fluid. Once gathered the spermaceti would be placed in barrels for the voyage home. A large whale would have as much as three tons of spermaceti.

== References ==
{{commonscat}}
* David R. Carrier, Stephen M. Deban and Jason Otterstrom, [http://autodax.net/Carrieretal2002.pdf The face that sank the Essex: potential function of the spermaceti organ in aggression], ''Journal of Experimental Biology '205:'''1755–1763, 2002.
* {{cite book |last= Dolin |first= Eric Jay |coauthors= |title= Leviathan, The History of Whaling in America |publisher= W.W. Norton & Co. |year= 2007 |month= |isbn= 978-0-393-6057-7 }}

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{{Whaling}}

[[Category:Waxes]]
[[Category:Whale products]]
[[Category:Cosmetics chemicals]]

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