Kerosene
Combustible hydrocarbon liquid derived from petroleum, used as fuel.
Kerosene, also known as paraffin, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid derived from petroleum.
- field
- Fuel chemistry and petroleum refining
- key_properties
- Low-viscosity, clear liquid; flash point 37–65 °C; freezing point −40 to −47 °C; heat of combustion 43.1–46.2 MJ/kg
Lore & Background
The process of distilling crude oil into kerosene was first written about in the ninth century by the Persian scholar Rāzi (Rhazes) in his Kitab al-Asrar, describing two methods using an alembic.
Reader's Guide
Its production methods, pioneered by figures like Gesner and Young, marked a transition from whale oil to petroleum-based lighting. The fuel is regulated in some jurisdictions to prevent confusion with gasoline, such as Pennsylvania requiring blue containers for kerosene. The World Health Organization considers kerosene a polluting fuel due to harmful particulate matter in its smoke. Kerosene remains essential for cooking, lighting, and small engines in parts of Asia, while its highly refined form RP-1 powers some rocket engines.
Did You Know?
- Kerosene's name derives from the Greek κηρός (kērós) meaning 'wax'.
- The flash point of kerosene is between 37 °C and 65 °C.
- In the United States, Pennsylvania requires portable containers for kerosene to be colored blue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kerosene?
Kerosene (also called paraffin) is a low-viscosity, clear hydrocarbon liquid that is extracted and refined from crude petroleum. It is best known as a combustible fuel used across a range of applications.
What are Kerosene's key physical properties?
It has a flash point between 37 and 65 °C, a freezing point in the range of −40 to −47 °C, and a heat of combustion of roughly 43.1 to 46.2 MJ per kilogram. These figures make it a practical mid-range fuel for heating and propulsion.
What is Kerosene's role in the transportation sector?
Kerosene serves as a combustion fuel, most notably as the base for jet fuel that powers aircraft. Its energy density and relatively low viscosity make it well suited for high-temperature, high-altitude engines.
Where does Kerosene come from in the refining process?
It is a product of petroleum refining, separated from crude oil during distillation. The field it belongs to is fuel chemistry and petroleum refining, where it is one of several hydrocarbon fractions obtained.
Why is Kerosene considered important in fuel chemistry?
Its balanced combination of a moderate flash point, low freezing point, and high heat of combustion makes it versatile for both stationary heating and mobile propulsion. That versatility keeps it a staple product in the petroleum refining industry.
More in Transportation 1-24
Elsewhere in the Transportation universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record