Question

Lanolin or wool fat is a
a. Hard fat
b. Oil
c. Wax
d. Sterol

Answer 1

Hint: Lanolin is the name of the oil present in raw sheep wool. Historically, many pharmacopeias have mentioned lanolin as lanolin, however, as lanolin lacks glycerides (glycerol esters), it's not fat. Lanolin primarily consists of sterol esters instead. The waterproofing property of Lanolin aids sheep in shedding water from their coats.

Complete answer:
Lanolin is also known as wool yolk, wool wax, maybe a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. Lanolin employed by humans comes from Ovis aries breeds that are raised specifically for his or her wool. So, option C) Wax is correct.

Lanolin's role in nature is to guard wool and skin against climate and therefore the environment; it also plays a task in the skin (integumental) hygiene. Lanolin and its derivatives are utilized in the protection, treatment, and beautification of human skin.
Oil is considered as unsaturated fat. They are insoluble in water. They are polyunsaturated compounds. So, option B is incorrect.

Hard fat is considered as a visceral fiber. It is made up of harder tissue. SO, option A is incorrect.
Waxes are like fats, but they are malleable and have only a single chain.

A typical high-purity grade of sterol consists predominantly of long-chain waxy esters (approximately 97% by weight). So, option D is incorrect.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Lanolin is employed commercially in many industrial products starting from rustproof coatings to lubricants. Some sailors use lanolin to make slippery surfaces on their propellers and stern gear to which barnacles cannot adhere. Commercial products (e.g. Lanocote) contain up to 85% lanolin and are won’t prevent corrosion in marine fasteners, especially when two different metals are in touch with one another and saltwater. The water-repellent properties make it valuable in many applications as a lubricant grease where corrosion would rather be a drag.