Paraffin series

Paraffin series
Paraffin Par"af*fin (p[a^]r"[a^]f*f[i^]n), Paraffine Par"af*fine (p[a^]r"[a^]f*f[i^]n or p[a^]r"[a^]f*f[=e]n), n. [F. paraffine, fr. L. parum too little + affinis akin. So named in allusion to its chemical inactivity.] (Chem.) A white waxy substance, resembling spermaceti, tasteless and odorless, and obtained from coal tar, wood tar, petroleum, etc., by distillation. It is used in candles, as a sealing agent (such as in canning of preserves), as a waterproofing agent, as an illuminant and as a lubricant. It is very inert, not being acted upon by most of the strong chemical reagents. It was formerly regarded as a definite compound, but is now known to be a complex mixture of several higher hydrocarbons of the methane or marsh-gas series; hence, by extension, any substance, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, of the same chemical series; thus gasoline, coal gas and kerosene consist largely of paraffins. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Note: In the present chemical usage this word is spelled paraffin, but in commerce it is commonly spelled paraffine. [1913 Webster]

{Native paraffin}. See {Ozocerite}.

{Paraffin series}. See {Methane series}, under {Methane}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • paraffin series — n. METHANE SERIES …   English World dictionary

  • paraffin series — noun a series of non aromatic saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH(2n+2) • Syn: ↑methane series, ↑alkane series, ↑alkane, ↑paraffin • Hypernyms: ↑aliphatic compound • Hyponyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • paraffin series — Chem. See alkane series. * * * …   Universalium

  • Paraffin — Par af*fin (p[a^]r [a^]f*f[i^]n), Paraffine Par af*fine (p[a^]r [a^]f*f[i^]n or p[a^]r [a^]f*f[=e]n), n. [F. paraffine, fr. L. parum too little + affinis akin. So named in allusion to its chemical inactivity.] (Chem.) A white waxy substance,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Paraffin —   I. (oil)   A light colored, wax free oil obtained by pressing paraffin distillate.   U.S. Dept. of Energy, Energy Information Administration s Energy Glossary   II. (wax)   The wax removed from paraffin distillates by chilling and pressing.… …   Energy terms

  • Paraffin — For the fuel called paraffin in the United Kingdom and South Africa, see Kerosene. For other uses, see Paraffin (disambiguation). In chemistry, paraffin is a term that can be used synonymously with alkane , indicating hydrocarbons with the… …   Wikipedia

  • Native paraffin — Paraffin Par af*fin (p[a^]r [a^]f*f[i^]n), Paraffine Par af*fine (p[a^]r [a^]f*f[i^]n or p[a^]r [a^]f*f[=e]n), n. [F. paraffine, fr. L. parum too little + affinis akin. So named in allusion to its chemical inactivity.] (Chem.) A white waxy… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • paraffin — /par euh fin/, n. 1. a white or colorless, tasteless, odorless, water insoluble, solid substance not easily acted upon by reagents, consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons chiefly of the alkane series, obtained from crude petroleum: used in… …   Universalium

  • paraffin — 1. One of the methane series of acyclic hydrocarbons. 2. SYN: hard p.. [L. parum, little, + affinis, neighboring, akin, so called because of its slight tendency to chemical reaction] chlorinated p. a solvent for dichloramine T. hard p. a purified …   Medical dictionary

  • paraffin little affinity series — Methane Meth ane, n. [See {Methal}.] (Chem.) A light, colorless, gaseous, inflammable hydrocarbon, {CH4}; marsh gas. It is the simplest of the aliphatic hydrocarbons. See {Marsh gas}, under {Gas}. [1913 Webster] {Methane series} (Chem.), a series …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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