Beeswax

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/beeswax

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Cera alba
2. What is the primary biological origin?Secreted by worker bees (genus Apis) from abdominal wax glands
3. What is beeswax and how do bees make it?Beeswax is a natural wax made by worker bees. They produce it from sugars in nectar using special glands on their belly, then chew it into soft scales to build honeycomb.
4. Why do honeycombs have hexagonal cells?Hexagons fit together perfectly and use the least amount of wax while holding lots of honey. This shape is strong and efficient for the bees.

Esters: Organic compounds formed from the reaction of an acid with an alcohol, common in fats and waxes.
Hydrocarbons: Organic compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms, forming the backbone of many natural substances.
Encaustic Painting: An ancient art technique involving the application of heated beeswax mixed with colored pigments to a surface.