What is the melting point range of hard wax?

• A. 40-50
• B. 45-50
• C. 50-60
• D. 60-70

Answer: (C)

Hard wax is designed to melt at a higher temperature than soft paraffin, giving a firmer embedding medium that holds tissues securely during sectioning. Because of this higher melting point, its typical range is about 50 to 60°C. That’s why 50-60°C is the best match. If the wax melted much lower, it would be too soft and prone to deformation during cutting; if it required temperatures well above 60°C, you'd need hotter heating and risk tissue damage or altered reagent performance.