Definition of Oil: When we talk about oil, we often do not know what it means. Although this is a non-renewable resource that has properties that man has been able to take advantage of in recent years. Would you like to know a little more about him?

What is Oil? – Definition of Oil

What is Oil

To define what oil is, we will use a fairly simple definition. This is an oily substance. It is made of hydrocarbons or in this case, of decomposition materials that remained in the trapped terrestrial layers. It is dark in color and has a strong smell, as well as being a little lighter than water.

We can find oil in deep layers of the earth as underground deposits. From it, man can get a lot of products that are beneficial. This is due to its distillation and treatment.

Although it does not look like crude oil or in its natural state, it does not have a practical use. Despite this, we can give a lot of value as raw material because it is used for the production of new things.

This is a hydrocarbon that is possible to be separated when heated to about 400 ° to take full advantage of its properties. This is a process that is known as Cracking. From this function, then all the derivatives that we can find commonly anywhere come out.

Petroleum Derivatives

Because of its composition, oil is used for multiple functions. From there come a lot of derivatives that man has used to facilitate certain tasks. Among its main derivatives are:

  • Gasoline and naphtha: This turns out to be the main source of energy today. It is used by internal combustion vehicles from all over the planet. Not only cars but also vans, motorcycles, among others.
  • Kerosene: It is a highly flammable liquid product of the distillation of petroleum. It is used as a solvent, jet engines, gas turbines. Although its use has been displaced, it was formerly used for lighting.
  • Gas oil: diesel or diesel. This is more common between trucks and public transportation. This is because its cost is much lower than gasoline.
  • Fuel oil: It is one of the heaviest. It is ideal for power plants, boilers, and furnaces.
  • Benzin: This is used as raw material to create cleaning products and solvents.
  • Gases of petroleum: They are the butane and the propane. These are used in cooking stoves or heating pumps.
  • Asphalt: Another derivative of oil that man uses a lot to build avenues and waterproof roofs.

Through the petrochemical industry, even more petroleum compounds can be extracted. This implies that we have more derivatives such as:

  • Plastic: This is used to make toys, bottles, containers and a lot of objects.
  • Synthetic fabrics
  • Rubber, rubbers, and latex.
  • The raw material for cosmetics.
  • Paintings for our house.
  • Paraffin waxes: These are used for domestic and industrial cleaning. It also serves for waxed paper.

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