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Paraffin is a common name for a group of high molecular weight alkane hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2, where n is greater than about 20. Paraffin is also a technical name for an alkane in general, but in most cases it refers specifically to a linear, or normal alkane, while branched, or isoalkanes are also called isoparaffins. (Latin para+affinis with the meaning here of "lacking affinity", or "lacking reactivity")It is mostly found as a white, odorless, tasteless, waxy solid, with a typical melting point between about 47°C and 65°C. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in ether, benzene, and certain esters. Paraffin is unaffected by most common chemical reagents, but burns readily. In the United Kingdom and South Africa, the fuel known elsewhere as kerosene is called paraffin oil, and the solid forms of paraffin are called paraffin wax.
Uses
- CandleThis article is on the source of light. For other meanings see Candle (disambiguation A candle is a light source usually consisting of an internal wick which rises through the center of a column of solid fuel. Typically the fuel is a form of wax with paramaking
- Coatings for waxed paper or cloth.
- Making microscopyMicroscopy is any technique for producing visible images of structures or details too small to otherwise be seen by the human eye. With the exception of techniques such as force microscopy and electron tunnel microscopy, microscopy usually involves the di specimens.
- Solid propellant for hybrid rocketsA hybrid rocket propulsion system typically comprises a solid fuel and a liquid or gas oxidizer. These systems are superior to solid propulsion systems in the respects of safety, throttling, restartability, and environmental cleanliness. However, hybrid s
- Sealing jars, cans, and bottles
- Fuel for lamps and campingFor other uses, see camping (disambiguation Camping is an outdoor recreational activity involving the spending of one or more nights in a tent, primitive structure, a travel trailer or recreational vehicle at a campsite with the purpose of getting away fr stoves
Food-grade paraffin wax is used in some candies to make them look shiny. Although edible, it is nondigestible; it passes right through the body without being broken down. Non-food grade paraffin wax can contain oils and other impurities which may be toxic or harmful.
Paraffin wax is not used much to make original models for castingThis article is about the manufacturing process. In entertainment, casting is a pre-production process for selecting a cast of actors and other talent for a live or recorded performance. See also Cast (computer science) for explicit type conversion and ca, as it is relatively brittle at room temperature and usually cannot be cold-carved without excessive chipping and breaking. Soft, pliable waxes such as beeswaxBeeswax is a tough wax formed from a mixture of several compounds secreted by honeybees in the form of thin scales from glands on the ventral surface of the abdomen and used in building the combs in which the young are raised and honey and pollen are stor are preferred for modelling.
See also: aliphatic hydrocarbon.
PetroleumNodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Latin petrus rock and oleum oil), mineral oil or crude oil sometimes colloquially called black gold is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the uppe
