<P> Paraffin wax is a soft colourless solid, derived from petroleum, coal or oil shale, that consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules containing between twenty and forty carbon atoms . It is solid at room temperature and begins to melt above approximately 37 ° C (99 ° F); its boiling point is> 370 ° C (698 ° F). Common applications for paraffin wax include lubrication, electrical insulation, and candles; dyed paraffin wax can be made into crayons . It is distinct from kerosene and other petroleum products that are sometimes called paraffin . </P> <P> Un-dyed, unscented paraffin candles are odorless and bluish - white . Paraffin wax was first created in 1830 in Germany, and marked a major advancement in candlemaking technology, as it burned more cleanly and reliably than tallow candles and was cheaper to produce . </P>

Is candle wax a solid at room temperature