Stoddard solvent, Mineral spirit, what's the difference?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the differences between Stoddard solvent (CAS No 64742-47-8) and Mineral spirit (CAS No 8052-41-3), both of which are components of the paint additive Penetrol. Despite their similarities, they have distinct CAS numbers due to variations in their chemical compositions and manufacturing processes. The conversation highlights the complexities of CAS Registry Numbers and their assignment, emphasizing that different identifiers can lead to confusion regarding chemical classifications.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of CAS Registry Numbers and their significance in chemical identification.
  • Basic knowledge of organic chemistry and chemical composition.
  • Familiarity with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and their importance in product safety.
  • Awareness of common solvents used in industrial applications, such as Stoddard solvent and Mineral spirits.
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  • Research the chemical properties and applications of Stoddard solvent.
  • Investigate the differences in composition between Mineral spirits and other solvents like White spirit and Mineral Turpentine.
  • Explore the implications of CAS Registry Numbers in chemical safety and regulatory compliance.
  • Learn about the role of solvents in paint additives and their impact on performance and safety.
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Chemistry students, industrial chemists, safety officers, and anyone involved in the formulation or application of paint additives and solvents.

strangerep
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Hi,

I'm a 1st-time poster in the chemistry forum. (Only did 1 year of chem at Uni.)

I'm trying to understand the content of an organic paint-additive product "Penetrol".

http://www.floodaustralia.net/products/paint_additives/penetrol.php

The MSDS can be downloaded from this page:
http://www.floodaustralia.net/safety/

On the 2nd page of the MSDS, it says the product has

57% "Stoddard solvent", CAS No 64742-47-8
<11% "Mineral spirit", CAS No 8052-41-3

Looking on Wikipedia, i.e., here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_spirit ,
I get impression that "Stoddard solvent", "Mineral spirit", "Mineral Turpentine", and "White spirit" are all the same.

But if so, why do they have different CAS numbers? And why list them separately in the MSDS?

Can any organic/industrial chemists here shed some light on this?
 
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Quoting wiki:

CAS Registry Numbers are unique numerical identifiers assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to every chemical described in the open scientific literature

From what I remember they are assigned to compounds (sometimes mixtures) as they are described in literature, but the process never was (and is not) completely error free, so it is not uncommon that some chemicals are assigned numbers more than once. Plus, sometimes they are simply abused or misused, adding to confusion. You are not the first one to not understand - compare http://www.chemspider.com/blog/cas-registry-numbers-and-how-confused-we-are.html.
 
Borek said:
[...] You are not the first one to not understand - compare http://www.chemspider.com/blog/cas-registry-numbers-and-how-confused-we-are.html.
Hmm, thanks. That was an interesting (though depressing) read.
 

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