Key Facts

Other Names:

Gelatine

Formula:

Not applicable

Elements:

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and others

Compound Type:

Not applicable

State:

Solid

Molecular Weight:

Not applicable

Melting Point:

Not applicable

Boiling Point:

Not applicable

Solubility:

Soluble in hot water and glycerol; insoluble in most organic solvents

Overview

Gelatin (JELL-ah-tin) is a mixture, not a compound. Mixtures differ from compounds in a number of important ways. The parts that make up a mixture are not chemically combined with each other, as they are in a compound. Also, mixtures have no definite composition, but consist of varying amounts of the substances from which they are formed. Gelatin is a mixture of water-soluble proteins with high molecular weights. It typically occurs as a brittle solid in the form of colorless or slightly yellow flakes or sheets, or in powder form, with virtually no taste or odor. It absorbs up to ten times...