Chem. [f. Gr. κηρωτ-όν (see prec.) + -IC.] In Cerotic acid, C27 H54 O2, ‘the essential constituent of that portion of beeswax which is soluble in boiling alcohol’ (Watts, Dict. Chem.). See CERIN. Its salts are called Cerotates.
1850. Daubeny, Atom. The., viii. 258. As cerin forms a soap with potass, Brodie regards it as an acid, which he therefore calls the cerotic.
1873. Watts, Fownes’ Chem., 695. Cerotic Acid is the essential constituent of cerin.
So Cerotene, an olefine (C27 H54) obtained by the dry distillation of Chinese wax; Cerotin, hydrate of ceryl, C27 H56 O; Cerotyl, = CERYL.
1850. Daubeny, Atom. The., viii. 258. Mr. Brodie … also detected in a species of wax from China a substance … which he calls cerotin.
c. 1865. Letheby, in Circ. Sc., I. 98/1. Chinese wax … is made up of cerotic acid and an alcohol named oxide of cerotyl.
1869. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 334. Cerotyl Alcohol, is contained in Chinese wax.
