CO′PAL

Syn. Copal′ , Gum copal . A resinous substance, which exudes spontaneously from various trees belonging to the genera Hymenæa , Guibourtia , and Trachylobium . The varieties commonly met with in commerce are East Indian copal, or anine, which is the produce of Hymenæa Courbaril , and West Indian copal, obtained from numerous species. Prop. When of good quality it is too hard to be scratched by the nail, has a conchoidal fracture, and a sp. gr. ranging from 1·059 to 1·072. Unlike other resins, it is di olved with difficulty by alcohol and e ential oils; and this property, combined with its extreme hardne , renders it very valuable for making varnishes. See Varnish .