Rosin taken when melting it. It is soluble in alcohol, ether, benzene and chloroform. Rosin consists mainly of abietic acid, and combines with caustic alkalis to form salts (rosinates or pinates) that are known as rosin soaps. In addition to its extensive use in soap making, rosin is largely employed in making varnishes (including fine violin varnishes), sealing wax and various adhesives. It is also used for preparing shoemakers' wax, for pitching lager beer casks, and numerous other purposes such as providing backing surfaces to tin ware, copper ware, or even silver and gold vessels when embossing or engraving them (its
Rosin in a single position for several months will show evidence of flow, especially in warmer weather. Prolonged exposure to rosin, by handling rosin-coated products, for example, laser printer or photocopying paper, can give rise to a form of industrial contact dermatitis. The chief region of rosin production is Indonesia, southern China (such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan and Jiangxi), and the northern part of Vietnam. Chinese rosin is obtained mainly from the turpentine of Masson's Pine "Pinus massoniana" and Slash Pine "P. elliottii". The South Atlantic and eastern Gulf states of the United States is also a chief region of