Talk:Mineral oil
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If anyone has the chemical formula of mineral oil, I would find that a useful addition. 206.169.244.20
- I would say it could be written as CnH2n+2, with n ranging between roughly 5-30, depending on the fraction of the oil. Plus other hydrocarbons, unsaturated and aromatic and cyclic, but mainly alkanes. See alkane#Purification and use for more. --Shaddack 23:06, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
[edit] "Low Value" versus "Low Cost"
The opening paragraph says "low value"; should this be "low cost". It seems contradictory that a low value substance would be produced in mass quantities. Maybe it is low cost yet highly useful.
- It's not deliberately mass-produced; it's a by-product of the mass production of gasoline. -Toptomcat 02:28, 13 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] What low cost?
Gasoline is currently considered 'expensive' hovering around 3 USD/gallon.
Looking for some mineral oil for a project that would use it as a coolant, I found prices to be around 14 USD/gallon - not what I would consider 'low cost'. Too bad I can't use gasoline as coolant.
- As an inert fluid for the purpose of electronics cooling, I'd say "low cost" is pretty much correct, considering 3M Fluorinert FC-77 costs $340 US for 1 litre from this supplier.
[edit] Dermatitis?
Does this mean excessive use on the skin or ingesting mineral oil causes dermatitis? Dermatitis is a skin disease, so it's probably the latter. -Toptomcat 02:28, 13 November 2006 (UTC)
