Paul Rawlings, age 11, of Lake Charles, La., for his question:

HOW IS ROSIN MADE?

Rosin is made by distilling the oleoresin that is collected from pine trees in the South. Turpentine vapor passes out of the still and the solid resin that remains is the rosin.

Workers sometimes use solvents to extract rosin from ground pine stumps.

Rosin is used in preparing paints and varnishes, soap, Bakelite and synthetic resins such as ester gum. It is also used as a sizing for paper and in polishes and waxes.

Resin in crude forms is added to concrete to prevent cracking during the cold weather.

Rosin keeps smooth surfaces from being slippery. It is also rubbed on the bows of such musical instruments as the violin.