Difference between revisions of "Mineral oil"

Revision as of 09:10, 8 May 2016

Mineral oil

Liquid paraffinum from a beekeeping store
Names
Other names Liquid petroleum Liquid paraffin Pariffinum liquidum White oil
Properties
Appearance	Colorless odorless viscous liquid
Density	0.836-0.91 g/cm3 (at 20 °C)
Boiling point	310–360 °C (590–680 °F; 583–633 K)
Solubility in water	Insoluble
Solubility	Miscible with hydrocarbons, anhydrous alcohols Insoluble in glycerol
Vapor pressure	<0.1 kPa (at 20°C)
Hazards
Safety data sheet	ScienceLab
Flash point	160-168.33 °C (closed cup)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Mineral oil is the name given to light mixtures of higher alkanes, obtained from the distillation of petroleum. It is also known as liquid paraffin or pariffinum liquidum, white oil and liquid petroleum.

Properties

Chemical

Mineral oil has little reactivity.

Physical

Mineral oil is colorless, odorless, viscous liquid. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with many organic solvents. It has a density of around 0.85 g/cm³, depending on the type of oil (light or heavy).^[1] It has a flash point of 168.33°C^[2].

Availability

Mineral oil is available as baby oil, either pure or with perfume. The latter should be removed before using the oil in experiments.

It is also sometimes available as camp fuel. Some lamp and torch oils are 100% mineral oil.

Beekeeping suppliers will also sell mineral oil, used for the treatment of honey bee mites. It has good purity and generally lacks additives.

Preparation

Mineral oil is best bought than made.

Projects

• Store alkali metals
• Make an oil bath

Handling

Safety

Mineral oil poses little risk, but untreated mineral oil is considered hazardous.

Storage

In closed bottles.

Disposal

Should be disposed like any other oil.

References

1. ↑ http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Mineral_oil
2. ↑ http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927364

Relevant Sciencemadness threads