Nomenclature
Liquid paraffin; mineral oil; white mineral oil; paraffin oil; Clearteck (Penreco); Drakeol (Penreco); Hevyteck (Penreco); Kremol (Sonneborn); Kaydol (Sonneborn); Alboline; Nujol (Schering); Paroleine; Saxol; Adepsine oil; Glymol. Description and references
A mixture of liquid hydrocarbons from petroleum.
Properties
Colorless, oily liquid; practically tasteless
and odorless even when warmed. The density of the “light”
oil is usually 0.83-0.860; the “heavy” 0.875-0.905. Surface tension at 25° slightly
below 35 dynes/cm. Insol in water, alc. Sol in benzene, chloroform,
ether, carbon disulfide, petr ether, oils.Use
Lubricant. Pharmaceutic aid (vehicle, solvent).
As formulation aid in foods. In cosmetics as emollient.
Therapeutic Category
Cathartic.
Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)
Laxative, externally as a protectant,
lubricant.
Keywords
Laxative/Cathartic