The key difference between paraffinic and naphthenic is that paraffinic substances contain alkanes while naphthenic substances contain cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons.
The term paraffinic refers to substances containing paraffin compounds, whereas the term naphthenic refers to the substances containing naphthene. We commonly use these terms in organic chemistry as well as in industrial chemistry. Paraffins are alkanes while naphthenes are cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Paraffinic
3. What is Naphthenic
4. Side by Side Comparison – Paraffinic vs Naphthenic in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Paraffinic?
The term paraffinic refers to substances containing paraffins. Paraffins are alkanes. These are acyclic saturated hydrocarbons. Moreover, the general formula of paraffins is CnH2n+2. There are only single bonds between carbon atoms, and the molecule has a tree structure. Therefore, all the carbon atoms in paraffinic compounds are sp3 hybridized. Thus, this means each carbon atom has four single bonds around it.
Figure 1: Structure of Methane, which is the Simplest Structure of a Paraffin
We mainly use the term paraffin for higher alkanes that exist as waxes at room temperature. These compounds are colourless solid hydrocarbon mixtures of alkanes we can use to make candles, wax paper, lubricants, etc.
What is Naphthenic
Naphthenic refers to substances containing naphthene. Naphthenes are cyclic, aliphatic hydrocarbons that are manufactured from petroleum oil. The general formula of naphthenes is CnH2n. Furthermore, these compounds have one or more rings ring structures, which has only single bonds. Therefore, these are saturated hydrocarbon compounds. We call them cycloparaffin.
Figure 2: Simple Naphthenic Compounds
Moreover, we can easily convert naphthenic crude oil into gasoline than converting paraffinic crude oil.
What is the Difference Between Paraffinic and Naphthenic?
The key difference between paraffinic and naphthenic is that the term paraffinic refers to substances containing paraffin compounds, whereas the term naphthenic refers to the substances containing naphthene. Further, the general formula of paraffinic substances is CnH2n+2 while the general formula for naphthenic compounds is CnH2n. Moreover, when considering the conversion of crude oil into gasoline, it is comparatively easy to convert naphthenic crude oil into gasoline; this is the reverse with paraffinic crude oil.
Below infographic summarizes the difference between paraffinic and naphthenic.
Summary – Paraffinic vs Naphthenic
The term paraffinic refers to substances containing paraffin compounds, whereas the term naphthenic refers to the substances containing naphthene. Thus, paraffinic substances contain alkanes, while naphthenic substances contain cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons. Thus, this is the key difference between paraffinic and naphthenic.
Reference:
1. Helmenstine, Anne Marie. “Naphthenes Definition and Examples.” ThoughtCo, Jun. 17, 2019, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Methane-2D-stereo” By SVG version by Patricia.fidi – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “First four cycloalkanes” By Pete Davis – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia