Turpentine is a yellowish thick fluid oleoresin that is obtained from the sap of pine, fir, and other conifer trees.
It is made up of two principal ingredients, an essential oil, and a type of resin called rosin. The essential oil (which is called oil of turpentine) can be separated from the rosin by distillation with steam.
Turpentine that you buy commercially, is basically the essential oil. When it is pure, it is a clear, oily liquid with a strong odor of ketone.
The chief use of turpentine is as a solvent for paints and varnishes.
The physical data for turpentine are as follows:
Appearance: colourless liquid with paint-like odour
Melting point: -60 to -50 C
Boiling point: 150 - 180 C
It is a chemically stable component, but is highly flammable. It is incompatible with chlorine, and other strong oxidizers.
It is dangerous for turpentine to come into contact with mucous membranes, and it is an eye irritant. It is also harmful if inhaled at high concentrations over an extended period.
**Safety information courtesy of OSHA.