Everything about Turpentine totally explained
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Turpentine (also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, wood turpentine, gum turpentine) is a fluid obtained by the
distillation of
resin obtained from trees, mainly
pine trees. It is composed of
terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes
alpha-pinene and
beta-pinene. It has a potent odor similar to that of
nail polish remover. It is sometimes known colloquially as
turps, but this more often refers to
turpentine substitute (or mineral turpentine).
The word
turpentine is formed (via French and Latin) from the Greek word
terebinthine, the name of a species of tree, the
terebinth tree, from whose sap the spirit was originally distilled.
Production
One of the earliest sources was the
terebinth or turpentine tree (
Pistacia terebinthus), a
Mediterranean tree related to the
pistachio.
Important pines for turpentine production include:
Industrial and other end uses
The two primary uses of turpentine in industry are as a
solvent and as a source of materials for
organic synthesis.
As a solvent, turpentine is used for thinning oil-based
paints, for producing
varnishes, and as a raw material for the chemical industry. Its industrial use as a solvent in industrialized nations has largely been replaced by the much cheaper
turpentine substitutes distilled from
crude oil.
Canada balsam, also called Canada turpentine or balsam of
fir, is a turpentine which is made from the
resin of the balsam fir.
Venice turpentine is produced from the
Western Larch Larix occidentalis.
Turpentine is also used as a source of raw materials in the synthesis of fragrant chemical compounds. Commercially used
camphor,
linalool,
alpha-terpineol, and
geraniol are all usually produced from alpha-
pinene and beta-pinene, which are two of the chief chemical components of turpentine. These pinenes are separated and purified by distillation. The mixture of
diterpenes and
triterpenes that's left as residue after turpentine distillation is sold as
rosin.
Turpentine is also added to many cleaning and sanitary products due to its antiseptic properties and its "clean scent".
In early 19th Century America, turpentine was sometimes burned in lamps as a cheap alternative to whale oil. It was most commonly used for outdoor lighting, due to its strong odor.
Hazards
Turpentine is an
organic solvent, and thus poses many of the same hazards as do other such substances. Its vapor can burn the skin and eyes, damage the
lungs and respiratory system, as well as the
central nervous system when inhaled, and cause
renal failure when ingested, among other things. It is highly flammable.
Medicinal elixir
Turpentine and petroleum distillates such as
coal oil and kerosene have been used medicinally since ancient times, as topical and sometimes internal home remedies. Topically it has been used for abrasions and wounds, as a treatment for
lice, and when mixed with
animal fat it has been used as a chest rub, or inhaler for nasal and throat ailments. Many modern chest rubs, such as the
Vicks variety, still contain turpentine in their formulations.
Though internal administration of these toxic products is no longer common today, it was once administered by masking the taste by dosing sugar cubes, molasses, or honey, or when unavailable, straight. It was touted as treatment for
intestinal parasites due to its alleged
antiseptic and
diuretic properties, and a general cure-all.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Turpentine'.
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