Decanol is a chemical compound with the formula C10H21OH. The spelling of decanol is based on its chemical structure, which contains the root word "deca" meaning ten and "ol" indicating an alcohol. In IPA phonetic transcription, decanol is pronounced as /dɛkənɒl/. The "d" is pronounced as a voiced dental consonant, the "e" as an open-mid front unrounded vowel, the "k" as a voiceless velar stop, and the "n" as a voiced alveolar nasal. The "o" is pronounced as a close-mid back rounded vowel, the "l" as a voiced alveolar lateral approximant.
Decanol is a chemical compound that belongs to the class of alcohols. Its chemical formula is C10H22O, and its systematic name is decan-1-ol. It is also commonly referred to as decyl alcohol. Decanol is a colorless, viscous liquid that has a strong odor resembling that of various fruits, such as bananas. It is insoluble in water but is soluble in most organic solvents.
Decanol is primarily derived from natural sources, such as vegetable oils and fats. It is often used as a precursor in the production of various chemicals and esters. It serves as a building block for the synthesis of surfactants, plasticizers, lubricants, and emollients.
In addition to its industrial applications, decanol is also used in the formulation of personal care products, including lotions, creams, and hair care items. It imparts a smooth and silky texture to these products and helps to enhance their spreadability. Moreover, decanol possesses some antimicrobial properties, which make it useful in preservative systems.
Decanol is considered to be a relatively low-toxicity compound, but it may cause irritation or sensitization upon direct contact with the skin. It should be handled with care and stored appropriately in well-ventilated areas away from heat sources and oxidizing agents.
The word "decanol" is derived from a combination of two components.
The first component, "deca-", comes from the Greek word "deka" meaning "ten". In the context of organic chemistry, "deca-" refers to a hydrocarbon chain consisting of ten carbon atoms.
The second component, "-anol", is derived from the suffix "-ol", which is used to indicate alcohols in organic chemistry. It originates from the Arabic word "al-kuḥul" meaning "kohl" (an eyeliner), which was later adopted by Latin as "alcohol" and eventually became associated with any substance with a hydroxyl group (-OH).
Combining these two components, "deca-" and "-anol", yields "decanol", which is a term used to describe a specific alcohol compound with ten carbon atoms in its hydrocarbon chain.