Liquid paraffin (drug)

Paraffinum liquidum
	Liquid paraffin in a bottle
Clinical data
Routes of; administration	Topical, oral
ATC code	A06AA01 (WHO) ;
Legal status
Legal status	In general: Over-the-counter (OTC);
Identifiers
CAS Number	8012-95-1 ;
PubChem SID	7979779;
ChemSpider	none;
UNII	N6K5787QVP;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID3034743 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.029.437
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C; nH; 2n+2

Liquid paraffin, also known as paraffinum liquidum, paraffin oil, liquid paraffin oil or Russian mineral oil, is a very highly refined mineral oil used in cosmetics and medicine. Cosmetic or medicinal liquid paraffin should not be confused with the paraffin (i.e. kerosene) used as a fuel.

The generic sense of paraffin meaning alkane led to regional differences for the meanings of both paraffin and paraffin oil. It is a transparent, colorless, nearly odorless, and oily liquid that is composed of saturated hydrocarbons derived from petroleum.^[1]

The term paraffinum perliquidum is sometimes used to denote light liquid paraffin, while the term paraffinum subliquidum is sometimes used to denote a thicker mineral oil.

^ Sharif F, Crushell E, O'Driscoll K, Bourke B (August 2001). "Liquid paraffin: a reappraisal of its role in the treatment of constipation". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 85 (2): 121–4. doi:10.1136/adc.85.2.121. PMC 1718886. PMID 11466186.

[:0-1] Sharif F, Crushell E, O'Driscoll K, Bourke B (August 2001). "Liquid paraffin: a reappraisal of its role in the treatment of constipation". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 85 (2): 121–4. doi:10.1136/adc.85.2.121. PMC 1718886. PMID 11466186.

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