Mineral Oil CAS#8042-47-5
Highly Refined and Stable Physical Properties: Mineral oil offers a clear, colorless to pale yellow appearance with consistent viscosity, low vapor pressure, and a high flash point, ensuring excellent stability and safety in various applications.
Odorless and Non-Reactive Formulation: With virtually no odor and low chemical reactivity, it is suitable for sensitive uses where purity and minimal sensory impact are essential.
Insoluble in Water for Reliable Performance: Its water-insoluble nature makes mineral oil ideal for lubrication, protection, and moisture-resistant applications, maintaining performance even in humid environments.
Versatile Hydrocarbon Composition: Composed of a balanced mixture of paraffins, naphthenes, and limited aromatics, mineral oil supports a wide range of industrial and commercial uses due to its adaptable chemical structure.
Product Description
Mineral oil (CAS# 8042-47-5) is a highly refined petroleum distillate that appears colorless to pale yellow, featuring a clear and viscous consistency. It is virtually odorless, with a specific gravity between 0.79 and 0.94 at 15.6 °C, and a broad boiling range of approximately 150–894 °C. The oil has a low vapor pressure—below 0.1 kPa at 20 °C—and a flash point of 168.33 °C. It is insoluble in water, with a molecular weight spanning roughly 28.2 to 843.6 g/mol, corresponding to hydrocarbons containing between 9 and 60 carbon atoms.
Mineral oil is not a single compound but a mixture of hydrocarbons derived from crude petroleum. It mainly contains three categories of chemicals: saturated paraffins, naphthenes, and aromatics. Saturated paraffins consist of linear or branched hydrocarbons with single bonds, while naphthenes include ring structures with single bonds and may have alkyl side chains. Aromatic components are cyclic hydrocarbons with carbon–carbon double bonds, limited to the aromatic ring portion of the molecules.
Mineral oil Chemical Properties
Density | 0.85 g/mL at 20 °C |
Vapor pressure | 0.0001 hPa (20 °C) |
Refractive index | n |
Fp | 185 °C |
Storage temp | room temp |
Solubility | soluble in Chloroform |
Form | light oil |
Color | white |
Odor | Very faint. |
Water Solubility | insoluble |
λmax | λ: 260 nm Amax: 0.7 |
Dielectric constant | 2.1（27℃） |
EPA Substance Registry System | White mineral oil (petroleum) (8042-47-5) |
Safety Information
Hazard Codes | Xi |
Risk Statements | 36/37/38-41 |
Safety Statements | 23-26-36-24/25 |
RIDADR | 1263 |
WGK Germany | 3 |
RTECS | PY8047000 |
Autoignition Temperature | >300 °C |
TSCA | Yes |
HS Code | 2710 19 85 |
HazardClass | 3.2 |
PackingGroup | III |
Toxicity | LD50 orally in Rabbit: > 5000 mg/kg LD50 dermal Rabbit > 2000 mg/kg |
Because of its inert and non-toxic characteristics, mineral oil is widely used across various industries. In the food sector, it serves as a release agent, binder, or lubricant. In medical settings, it functions as a laxative for both humans and animals. In livestock care, it is commonly used to treat colic, constipation, and digestive tract impactions. The FDA classifies white mineral oil as safe for use in food and authorizes its application in numerous food-related processes.
Mineral oil is considered environmentally non-toxic. It persists in aquatic environments for only 2–3 days, while in soil it degrades more slowly. It does not bioaccumulate and has low acute toxicity to plants and animals. However, environmental pollution can occur during crude oil extraction, transportation, or refining if appropriate safety and handling procedures are not observed.
