# petroleum jelly

> chemical substance used as lubricating agent

**Wikidata**: [Q457239](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q457239)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_jelly)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/petroleum-jelly

## Summary
Petroleum jelly is a chemical substance used as a lubricating agent and topical ointment. It is a semi-solid gel composed of hydrocarbons, primarily higher alkanes, with applications ranging from skin moisturizers to industrial lubricants.

## Key Facts
- CAS registry number: 8009-03-8  
- EC number: 232-373-2  
- E-number: E905b  
- Uses: lubricant, ointment, moisturizer, Icky-pick  
- Aliases: petrolatum, white petrolatum, soft paraffin, vaseline, Vaseline, multi-hydrocarbon, rod oil, rod wax, petrolato, jalea de petróleo  
- Instance of: gel and mixture (qualifier: hydrocarbon)  
- Subject roles: demulcent, ointment bases  
- Mesh descriptor ID: D010577 (Petrolatum)  
- Sitelink count: 49 (Wikipedia language editions)  
- Said to be the same as vaseline  

## FAQs
### Q: What is petroleum jelly used for?  
A: Petroleum jelly is used as a lubricant, ointment base, moisturizer, and demulcent. It is commonly applied topically for skin conditioning and as a protective barrier in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.  

### Q: Is petroleum jelly the same as Vaseline?  
A: Petroleum jelly is said to be the same as Vaseline, but also noted as different from Vaseline. This may reflect Vaseline’s status as a branded formulation versus the generic chemical substance.  

### Q: What is petroleum jelly’s chemical composition?  
A: Petroleum jelly is a mixture of hydrocarbons classified as a gel. Its composition primarily consists of higher alkanes, with no flow in steady-state due to its cross-linked structure.  

### Q: How is petroleum jelly classified in regulatory systems?  
A: It is assigned E905b (food additive), UNII 4T6H12BN9U, DrugBank ID DB11058, and Mesh descriptor ID D010577 (Petrolatum).  

## Why It Matters  
Petroleum jelly remains a globally accessible, multi-industry staple due to its chemical stability, safety, and versatility. It addresses practical needs in healthcare (as a demulcent and ointment base), cosmetics (as a moisturizer), and industrial applications (as a lubricant). Its presence in 49 Wikipedia language editions underscores its widespread adoption, while its hydrocarbon-based composition offers low-cost production and minimal environmental impact. The substance exemplifies how a simple chemical mixture can solve diverse problems across medicine, manufacturing, and consumer products.  

## Notable For  
- Hydrocarbon-based gel composition lacking steady-state flow  
- Extensive regulatory presence (E-number, DrugBank, UNII identifiers)  
- Dual classification as both a gel and a hydrocarbon mixture  
- 49 Wikipedia language editions reflecting global relevance  
- Brand-generic distinction with Vaseline  

## Body  
### Overview  
Petroleum jelly is a chemical substance used as a lubricating agent. It functions as a semi-solid gel with applications including topical ointments, moisturizers, and industrial lubricants.  

### Composition  
- Instance of gel and mixture (qualifier: hydrocarbon)  
- Primary components: higher alkanes  
- Exhibits no flow in steady-state due to cross-linked structure  

### Identifiers  
- CAS registry number: 8009-03-8  
- EC number: 232-373-2  
- E-number: E905b  
- UNII: 4T6H12BN9U  
- DrugBank ID: DB11058  
- Freebase ID: /m/01nxyd  
- Mesh descriptor ID: D010577 (Petrolatum)  

### Uses  
- Lubricant, ointment, moisturizer, Icky-pick  
- Demulcent and ointment base (per medical subject roles)  

### Names and Aliases  
- Primary: petroleum jelly  
- Alternatives: petrolatum, white petrolatum, soft paraffin, vaseline, Vaseline, multi-hydrocarbon, rod oil, rod wax, petrolato, jalea de petróleo  

### Regulatory Listings  
- HSDB ID: 1138  
- ICSC ID: 1440  
- COSING number: 79504  
- DSSTox substance ID: DTXSID6027686  
- ECHA substance infocard ID: 100.029.428  

### Related Entities  
- Said to be the same as vaseline  
- Different from vaseline (possibly due to branding)  
- Part of class: gel (sitelink count: 51)  
- Related to higher alkanes (has part(s)_of_the_class)

## References

1. Medical Subject Headings
2. PETROLATUM. Hazardous Substances Data Bank. 2019
3. Petrolatum. ECHA Substance Infocard database
4. PETROLATUM. CosIng database
5. KBpedia