Rather than us attempting to describe it, why don't you try it yourself? Petroleum jelly isn't terribly expensive.
Water and petroleum jelly do not dissolve in each other, regardless of heating. Petroleum jelly is a hydrophobic substance that does not mix with water, as it is composed of hydrocarbons. Heating may alter the viscosity of petroleum jelly, but it won't enable it to dissolve in water.
Petroleum jelly, also known as petrolatum, is not water-based. It is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum, which is a non-polar substance. Water-based products contain water as the main ingredient, whereas petroleum jelly is oil-based and does not contain any water.
Water and petroleum jelly do not dissolve in each other, regardless of whether heat is applied. Water is a polar solvent, while petroleum jelly is a non-polar substance, leading to their immiscibility. Heating may change the viscosity of petroleum jelly but won't facilitate dissolution in water.
Petroleum isn't a single product, but rather a range of substances. Many will float on water, but not all.
If a plant's leaves were covered with a waterproof petroleum jelly, it would likely suffer from impaired gas exchange and reduced photosynthesis. The jelly would block the stomata, preventing the uptake of carbon dioxide and the release of oxygen and water vapor. As a result, the plant could experience stress, stunted growth, and eventually decline or die if the coverage is prolonged. Additionally, the lack of transpiration could lead to water accumulation and other physiological issues.
Petroleum jelly is a hydrophobic substance, meaning it repels water due to its non-polar nature. Vegetable oil is also non-polar, allowing the two substances to mix and dissolve. Water, on the other hand, is a polar molecule with positive and negative charges that do not interact well with the non-polar petroleum jelly, leading to immiscibility.
Petroleum jelly reduced transpiration by creating a barrier on the surface of the leaf, preventing water loss through stomata. This can lead to decreased water uptake by the plant and potentially affect its overall growth and health.
Petroleum jelly, primarily composed of hydrocarbons, dissolves in non-polar solvents due to similar intermolecular forces; both the jelly and non-polar solvents exhibit London dispersion forces. In contrast, polar solvents, such as water or alcohols, have strong hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole interactions, which do not interact favorably with the non-polar molecules in petroleum jelly. This principle of "like dissolves like" explains why petroleum jelly can dissolve in some solvents but not in others.
This is going to sound really weird and please only use this as your last resort because I have tried it with other types of substances like petroleum jelly but not specifically that. First rub in vegetable oil wherever the petroleum is and that should break the petroleum down then all you need to do is wash the vegetable oil out with dish soap. Like I said, sounds weird.
Wash with water then apply petroleum jelly 3 times a week
Fill up a small container (like your sink) with hot water. Make sure the bottle is tightly closed, so no water may get in, and let the bottle sit in the hot water for 5-10 minutes. The lotion is liquid again when you can shake the bottle and hear it moving.
Like dissolves like. Lipstick is made of greasy or polar molecules, and so is petroleum jelly. Water is a polar molecule. Just like oil and water don't mix, nor does water and lipstick. Water is good at removing polar molecules (like salt for instance), but not good at removing grease. That is why you have to use soap to clean clothes -- because water alone does not remove grease or oils.See the Related Questions for more about how soap works.