Can paraffin wax be dissolved in methanol?

Answer 1

Liquid paraffin is a transparent and a colorless oil. At room temperature it is odorless and tasteless. Because it is oily it doesn't dissolve in water or glycerol. However it does dissolve in benzene, ether, chloroform and hot ethanol.

Answer 2

The short answer is yes.

All types of wax contain long hydrocarbon chains of varying length, usually bound to another functional group, such as ester, aldehyde, etc. (although paraffin is not). The long non-polar chains make the waxes extremely hydrophobic, and so they tend to be soluble only in organic non-polar solvents, such as benzene, toluene, or hexane.

Or use a product such as Goo Gone.

Answer 3

For the benefit of those who do not know, in chemistry, paraffin is the common name for the alkane hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2. Paraffin wax refers to the solids with 20 ≤ n ≤ 40. Paraffin wax is mostly found as a white, odorless, tasteless, waxy solid. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in ether, benzene, and certain esters. Indeed, paraffin is unaffected by most common chemical reagents, but burns readily.

Answer 4

Comercial paraffin waxs have differing properties, makeup and constituting hydrocarbon chain lengths, so I cannot say for certian; but the paraffin wax that I am currently working with (Sigma Aldrich, mp=58-62C) does not dissolve in methanol, ethanol or water (I tried all three this morning), and I am about to try acetonitrile after dinner.

Answer 5

No.