paraffin hydrocarbon

paraffin hydrocarbon

also called   

      any of the saturated hydrocarbons having the general formula CnH2n+2, C being a carbon atom, H a hydrogen atom, and n an integer. The paraffins are major constituents of natural gas and petroleum. Paraffins containing fewer than 5 carbon atoms per molecule are usually gaseous at room temperature, those having 5 to 15 carbon atoms are usually liquids, and the straight-chain paraffins having more than 15 carbon atoms per molecule are solids. Branched-chain paraffins have a much higher octane number rating than straight-chain paraffins and, therefore, are the more desirable constituents of gasoline. The hydrocarbons are immiscible with water but are soluble in absolute alcohol, ether, and acetone. All paraffins are colourless.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • paraffin hydrocarbon — noun see paraffin I, 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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

  • hydrocarbon — hydrocarbonaceous, adj. /huy dreuh kahr beuhn, huy dreuh kahr /, n. any of a class of compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon, as an alkane, methane, CH4, an alkene, ethylene, C2H4, an alkyne, acetylene, C2H2, or an aromatic compound,… …   Universalium

  • paraffin wax — paraffin in its solid state. [1870 75] * * * ▪ chemical compound       colourless or white, somewhat translucent, hard wax consisting of a mixture of solid straight chain hydrocarbons ranging in melting point from about 48° to 66° C (120° to 150° …   Universalium

  • paraffin oil — n any of various hydrocarbon oils (as mineral oil) obtained from petroleum …   Medical dictionary

  • Hydrocarbon — Ball and stick model of the methane molecule, CH4. Methane is part of a homologous series known as the alkanes, which contain single bonds only. In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon …   Wikipedia

  • paraffin — /ˈpærəfən / (say paruhfuhn) noun 1. Chemistry any hydrocarbon of the alkane series having general formula CNH2N+2. 2. → paraffin oil (def. 1). 3. British → kerosene. 4. → paraffin wax. – …  

  • 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

  • paraffin wax — noun A waxy white solid hydrocarbon mixture used to make candles, wax paper, lubricants, and sealing materials …   Wiktionary

  • paraffin oil — (British) hydrocarbon oil derived from petroleum; fuel oil …   English contemporary dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”