Physical Identification

• Lanolin is a soft waxy material. It is often yellowish or amber in color.
  
  

Chemical mixture

• Lanolin is a mixture of cholesterol esters and large fatty acids.
  
  

Fatty Acid Structures

• The fatty acids are carboxylic acids with long alkyl chains attached, giving the the molecule a high molecular weight. Some of the fatty acids are bonded to long aliphatic alcohols, to form esters.
  
  

Cholestrol Esters

• The cholesterol found in lanolin is a mixture of different stereochemical isomers. These compounds have identical configurations, with different stereochemistries at the chiral carbons.
  
  

Physical Properties

• Lanolin has a melting point around 45 to 60 C. It forms emulsions with water, though it is insoluble.