The key difference between paraffin and isoparaffin is that paraffin is a tree-like structure consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms with single bonds between carbon atoms, whereas isoparaffin is a branched-chain paraffin.
Paraffins are alkanes, which are saturated hydrocarbons having the chemical formula CnH2n+2 (where n is a whole number). Isoparaffin is a derivative of paraffin and is important as an ingredient in skincare products.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Paraffin
3. What is Isoparaffin
4. Paraffin vs Isoparaffin in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Paraffin vs Isoparaffin
What is Paraffin?
Paraffins are alkanes, which are saturated hydrocarbons having the chemical formula CnH2n+2 (where n is a whole number). These are called hydrocarbons because they contain C and H atoms. All these atoms are linked to each other via single covalent bonds. Since there are no double or triple bonds, paraffins are saturated hydrocarbons.
Figure 01: Paraffin Wax
Furthermore, these compounds are a broad group of organic molecules. We can name them according to the number of carbon atoms and the side groups that they contain. The smallest alkane is methane. In methane, a central carbon atom binds with four hydrogen atoms. The IUPAC nomenclature of paraffin is based on Greek prefixes.
Figure 02: A Paraffin Heater
All paraffins are colourless and odourless. The melting points and boiling points increase with the increase in the number of carbon atoms. Under standard temperature and pressure conditions, some of them are liquids, while some are gaseous compounds. This difference is due to their different boiling points. Moreover, alkanes show isomerism. A paraffin molecule may have structural isomerism or stereoisomerism according to its structure and spatial arrangement of the molecule.
What is Isoparaffin?
Isoparaffin is a branched-chain paraffin. It is an important skincare ingredient that is useful as an emollient. Isoparaffin can make the skin feel soft and smooth by helping the moisturizing of the skin barrier and by forming a semi-occlusive film on top of the skin for the prevention of moisture loss. We can use products containing isoparaffin on a daily basis without any considerable side effects. This ingredient is better for people with dry, flaky skin.
Isoparaffin is a hydrocarbon derived from petroleum. It is included in many skincare products, including moisturizers, sunscreen, lip products, foundations, cleaners, deodorants, and make-up removers. Although it is a non-irritating ingredient with minimum side effects, it is not suitable for acne-prone skins because it can cause the formation of pimples.
What is the Difference Between Paraffin and Isoparaffin?
Paraffins are alkanes and are saturated hydrocarbons having the chemical formula CnH2n+2 (where n is a whole number). Meanwhile, isoparaffin is a derivative of paraffin and is important as an ingredient in skincare products. Moreover, the key difference between paraffin and isoparaffin is that paraffin is a tree-like structure consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms with single bonds between carbon atoms, whereas isoparaffin is a branched-chain paraffin.
Below is a summary of the difference between paraffin and isoparaffin in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Paraffin vs Isoparaffin
Paraffin and isoparaffin are hydrocarbon compounds. Paraffins are alkanes, which are saturated hydrocarbons having the chemical formula CnH2n+2 (where n is a whole number). Isoparaffin is a derivative of paraffin and is important as an ingredient in skincare products. Therefore, the key difference between paraffin and isoparaffin is that paraffin is a tree-like structure consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms with single bonds between carbon atoms, whereas isoparaffin is a branched-chain paraffin.
Reference:
1. Rud, Melanie. “Is Isoparaffin a Scary Ingredient? We Investigate.” Byrdie, Byrdie, 10 Sept. 2021.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Paraffin wax” By Cjp24 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Paraffin heater” By Toshiyuki IMAI (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr