Paraffine

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]