C16H34O

C16H34O is a molecular formula representing a family of saturated, acyclic organic compounds containing 16 carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. The formula corresponds to several structural isomers, including monohydric alcohols and ethers, all conforming to the general formula CnH2n+2O with n = 16. The degree of unsaturation for this formula is zero, indicating no rings or multiple bonds.

The most well-known example is 1-hexadecanol, also called cetyl alcohol, a straight-chain primary alcohol used widely in cosmetics as an emollient and thickener. Cetyl alcohol is a waxy solid at room temperature and has a relatively high melting point, with low solubility in water. Beyond cetyl alcohol, many other isomeric alcohols and ether structures fit the same formula, including branched-chain alcohols and various long-chain ethers, but all share the same elemental composition and lack of rings or double bonds.

Applications and properties of C16H34O compounds are generally dominated by their hydrophobic, long-chain character. They are typically insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. In industry, long-chain alcohols and related ethers serve as components in cosmetics, lubricants, surfactants, and chemical syntheses. Safety profiles vary by isomer and use, but compounds of this type are routinely handled as standard organic substances under appropriate guidelines.

Note that C16H34O does not specify a single substance; it denotes a class of isomers with shared molecular composition and similar saturated, high-carbon content.