Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis. The wax is formed into scales by eight wax-producing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees, which discard it in or at the hive. The hive workers collect and use it to form cells for honey storage and larval and pupal protection within the beehive. Chemically, beeswax consists mainly of esters of fatty acids and various long-chain alcohols.
Beeswax cake
Commercial honeycomb foundation, made by pressing beeswax between patterned metal rollers
Fresh wax scales (in the middle of the bottom row)
Uncapping beeswax honeycombs
Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to give low viscosity liquids. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar organic solvents such as hexane, benzene and chloroform. Natural waxes of different types are produced by plants and animals and occur in petroleum.
Commercial honeycomb foundation, made by pressing beeswax between patterned metal rollers.
Ceroline brand wax for floors and furniture, first half of 20th century. From the Museo del Objeto del Objeto collection
Wax candle.
A wax coating makes this Manila hemp waterproof