WAX. 225 



myrtle wax, when fresh, emitting a fragrant bal- 

 samic odour. It has in part the tenacity without 

 the unctuosity of bees-wax, and somewhat of the 

 brittleness of resin. Its specific gravity is greater, 

 insomuch that it sinks in water, whereas bees-wax 

 floats upon it ; and it is not so easily bleached to 

 form white wax. 



Analysis of Wax. 



Carbon 81,79 



Oxygen 5,54? 



Hydrogen 1 2,67 



" The formation of resin and wax has been 

 explained thus : That when a volatile or a fixed 

 oil is expelled out of plants, and has its surface 

 exposed to the air, the first becomes a resin by 

 losing hydrogen, the second a wax by absorbing 

 oxygen." Parkes's Chemical Catechism, p. 244, 

 llth edit. 



