Paraffin wax is a familiar, soft, white solid that melts and burns with ease. It’s a key ingredient in candles and many industrial products. The wax’s properties stem from a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules—specifically alkanes—with a high hydrogen content.
The general formula for a paraffin wax component is CnH2n+2, where n is at least 16. A common example found in commercial waxes is C31H64. During refining of petroleum, variations in the proportion of these alkanes adjust the wax’s melting point, which ranges from 125 °F to 175 °F.
Paraffin’s high hydrogen content made it the perfect medium for James Chadwick’s 1932 experiment that confirmed the existence of the neutron. Using a polonium source of alpha particles and a beryllium target, Chadwick directed the resulting neutral radiation into a paraffin block. The interaction produced ionized protons—hydrogen atoms stripped of electrons—that triggered a Geiger counter. The count of displaced protons revealed neutral particles with a mass comparable to protons: neutrons.
In high‑precision metal fabrication—such as turbine blades—investment casting relies on wax patterns. Paraffin wax, often blended with additives, is melted into a master die to form a ceramic mold. Once the wax hardens, the ceramic investment surrounds it; the wax is then melted away, leaving a cavity into which molten metal is poured.
Beyond candles, paraffin wax is non‑toxic, indigestible, and widely used for:
Its versatility makes paraffin an essential component across consumer goods, industrial processes, and scientific research.
