
*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, discovered by Carl Reichenbach. *In the United Kingdom and South Africa the fuel known elsewhere as kerosene is called paraffin oil (or just ''paraffin''), and the solid forms of paraffin are called paraffin wax. *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 isoalkane are also called isoparaffin. (Latin ''para''+''affinis'' with the meaning here of "lacking affinity", or "lacking reactivity") ==Physical and chemical properties== 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 combustion readily. ==Uses== *Candlemaking *Coatings for waxed paper or cloth. *Preparing specimens for histology. *Solid propellant for Hybrid rocket *Sealing jars, cans, and bottles *Fuel for lamps and camping stoves *Fire breathing 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 casting, as it is relatively brittle at room temperature and usually cannot be cold-carved without excessive chipping and breaking. Soft, pliable waxes such as beeswax are preferred for modelling. ''See also'': aliphatic hydrocarbon. Petroleum
==Is parafin digestible? == (''question asked by anon user at Wikipedia:Reference desk'') Is the wax they sell for canning and for adding to some candy recipies digestible or is it like fiber in that it just passes? :As long as it's food-grade paraffin wax, it's edible but not digestable. Which means it passes right through the body without being broken down. As long as you don't eat too much or swallow a large lump of it (might cause a blockage), it's safe to eat. As you say, it is used in some candies to make them look shiny. (Eating too much of it might cause olestra-like distress, though...) ''Note:'' non-food grade paraffin wax can contain oils and other impurities which may be toxic or harmful, so it should not be eaten. -- User:DrBob :Actually, I asked myself the same question. In ''Tom Sawyer'' by Mark Twain, somebody is caught in a cave and eats all candles he can find by feeling around. It seems that couldn't really help him... Or maybe 19th century candles contained something digestible? -- User:Dnjansen 18:25, 24 Mar 2004 (UTC) ::Probably tallow. User:Rmhermen 18:35, Mar 24, 2004 (UTC) == Manufacture == The article should explain more about where we get paraffin. I'm guessing it's the very high-molecular-weight fraction of crude petroleum, but I don't know; maybe it's made by reducing lower-molecular-weight hydrocarbons? Somebody who knows ... please add this info to the article. User:ACW 02:39, 7 Nov 2004 (UTC)
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
Words begining with Paraffin:
Paraffin
Paraffin
Paraffin_Hydrocarbon
Paraffin_lamp
Paraffin_oil
Paraffin_Wax
Paraffin_wax
Paraffin_Young
Paraffin
*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, discovered by Carl Reichenbach. *In the United Kingdom and South Africa the fuel known elsewhere as kerosene is called paraffin oil (or just ''paraffin''), and the solid forms of paraffin are called paraffin wax. *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 isoalkane are also called isoparaffin. (Latin ''para''+''affinis'' with the meaning here of "lacking affinity", or "lacking reactivity") ==Physical and chemical properties== 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 combustion readily. ==Uses== *Candlemaking *Coatings for waxed paper or cloth. *Preparing specimens for histology. *Solid propellant for Hybrid rocket *Sealing jars, cans, and bottles *Fuel for lamps and camping stoves *Fire breathing 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 casting, as it is relatively brittle at room temperature and usually cannot be cold-carved without excessive chipping and breaking. Soft, pliable waxes such as beeswax are preferred for modelling. ''See also'': aliphatic hydrocarbon. Petroleum
Paraffin
==Is parafin digestible? == (''question asked by anon user at Wikipedia:Reference desk'') Is the wax they sell for canning and for adding to some candy recipies digestible or is it like fiber in that it just passes? :As long as it's food-grade paraffin wax, it's edible but not digestable. Which means it passes right through the body without being broken down. As long as you don't eat too much or swallow a large lump of it (might cause a blockage), it's safe to eat. As you say, it is used in some candies to make them look shiny. (Eating too much of it might cause olestra-like distress, though...) ''Note:'' non-food grade paraffin wax can contain oils and other impurities which may be toxic or harmful, so it should not be eaten. -- User:DrBob :Actually, I asked myself the same question. In ''Tom Sawyer'' by Mark Twain, somebody is caught in a cave and eats all candles he can find by feeling around. It seems that couldn't really help him... Or maybe 19th century candles contained something digestible? -- User:Dnjansen 18:25, 24 Mar 2004 (UTC) ::Probably tallow. User:Rmhermen 18:35, Mar 24, 2004 (UTC) == Manufacture == The article should explain more about where we get paraffin. I'm guessing it's the very high-molecular-weight fraction of crude petroleum, but I don't know; maybe it's made by reducing lower-molecular-weight hydrocarbons? Somebody who knows ... please add this info to the article. User:ACW 02:39, 7 Nov 2004 (UTC)
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
P
PA | PB | PC | PD | PE | PF | PG | PH | PI | PJ | PK | PL | PM | PN | PO | PR | PS | PT | PU | PW | PX | PY | PZ |Words begining with Paraffin:
Paraffin
Paraffin
Paraffin_Hydrocarbon
Paraffin_lamp
Paraffin_oil
Paraffin_Wax
Paraffin_wax
Paraffin_Young
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