Wax

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

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/wax

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 primary natural sources?Biosynthesis by plants (epicuticular waxes) and animals (beeswax, lanolin); geological deposits (petroleum)
2. What is wax and why does it feel wobbly?Wax is a solid that turns into a liquid when it gets warm. It is made of long chains of carbon and hydrogen. Because of its structure it stays solid until about 40°C.
3. Where does wax come from?Wax can come from plants, bees, sheep, and even from oil in the ground. Plants make wax on leaves and fruits. Bees make wax to build their honeycomb. Sheep produce lanolin wax from their wool. Oil companies pull paraffin wax from crude oil.

Lipophilic: Possessing an affinity for or the ability to dissolve in lipids or nonpolar substances.
Hydrocarbon: An organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
Viscosity: A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow; characterized by low viscosity in molten waxes.
Epicuticular Waxes: Waxy layers secreted by epidermal cells of plants, serving protective functions.