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DictionaryparaffinSaturated hydrocarbon
noun

paraffin

A hydrocarbon with an open chain and only single bonds.

Methane is the simplest paraffin.

Etymology
paraffinGermanparaffin

The name was coined from Latin words suggesting little affinity. It reflects the relative chemical unreactivity of the saturated hydrocarbons called paraffins.

More examples

  • The chemistry text groups these saturated hydrocarbons as paraffins.
  • A paraffin contains no carbon-carbon double bonds.
  • The laboratory compares several paraffins with different chain lengths.

Forms

paraffin · paraffins