Paraffins refer to mixtures of acyclic alkanes (saturated hydrocarbons) having the general empirical formula CnH2n+2. The number n is between 18 and 32. Paraffins are fluid, oily or waxy, flammable, odorless and tasteless, nontoxic and electrically insulating, waterproof, meltable with fats and waxes and inert to many chemicals.

Due to its properties and non-toxicity, the possible uses of paraffin wax are very diverse. The main areas of application are as fuel, sealing, care and preservation. For example, it is used as fuel for candles, oil lamps, paraffin stoves, as a barbecue lighter, when spewing and juggling fire, to soak the wood for matches or as a solid propellant for hybrid rockets.

In 1830, the Württemberg scientist Karl von Reichenbach discovered paraffin during a series of tests to determine the composition of wood tar.

In general, paraffin is an outdated general term for saturated hydrocarbons, mainly aliphatic hydrocarbons. [1] However, the term is used in the petrochemical industry to distinguish between acyclic and cyclic hydrocarbons, the so-called naphthenes. [2] This term describes gaseous as well as liquid and solid hydrocarbons.

In Galenic, the term is used for liquid or solid mixtures of saturated hydrocarbons. On the basis of viscosity and melting point, a distinction is made between liquid paraffin (Paraffinum perliquidum), oily or pasty paraffin (Paraffinum subliquidum) and solid paraffin (Paraffinum solidum). Also, the terms paraffin oil (white oil) or paraffin are also common.