Waxes are used as

• A. Hydrophobic protective coatings
• B. Nutritional energy source
• C. Primary pigments
• D. Hormones

Answer: (A)

Waxes are hydrophobic protective coatings. Their long, nonpolar chains make them water-repellent, forming a barrier that helps prevent water loss and protects surfaces from environmental damage. This is why plant cuticles and animal fur or feathers have a waxy layer: it keeps moisture in and shields tissues from drying out or damage. They are not a nutritional energy source; energy for organisms mainly comes from carbohydrates and fats that are readily metabolized, whereas waxes are not used as a primary fuel. They are not pigments, which are colored compounds that give organisms their color, nor hormones, which are signaling molecules that regulate physiology. Waxes serve a structural, protective role instead.