Access free live classes and tests on the app
Download
+
Unacademy
  • Goals
    • AFCAT
    • AP EAMCET
    • Bank Exam
    • BPSC
    • CA Foundation
    • CAPF
    • CAT
    • CBSE Class 11
    • CBSE Class 12
    • CDS
    • CLAT
    • CSIR UGC
    • GATE
    • IIT JAM
    • JEE
    • Karnataka CET
    • Karnataka PSC
    • Kerala PSC
    • MHT CET
    • MPPSC
    • NDA
    • NEET PG
    • NEET UG
    • NTA UGC
    • Railway Exam
    • SSC
    • TS EAMCET
    • UPSC
    • WBPSC
    • CFA
Login Join for Free
avtar
  • ProfileProfile
  • Settings Settings
  • Refer your friendsRefer your friends
  • Sign outSign out
  • Terms & conditions
  • •
  • Privacy policy
  • About
  • •
  • Careers
  • •
  • Blog

© 2023 Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt Ltd

Watch Free Classes
  • NEET 2024
  • NEET Answer Key 2024
  • NEET 2024 Preparation Toolkit
  • NEET Rank Predictor 2024
  • NEET College Predictor 2024
  • Study Materials
  • Notifications
  • NEET Syllabus 2024
  • NEET Question Paper
  • NEET Notes
  • NEET Books
  • NEET Paper Pattern
  • Video Lectures
  • Mind Maps
  • Downloads
  • Difference Between
  • Full Forms
  • Exam Tips
  • MCQs
NEET UG 2026 » NEET UG Study Material » Chemistry » Petroleum
neetug_toolkit

Petroleum

Petroleum translates to 'rock oil' in Latin, and it's an apt moniker for a thick combination of hydrocarbons found beneath the earth's surface that may be broken down, or refined, into other materials. Petroleum is made up of dead plants and animals that have been buried for almost 300 million years and exposed to extreme pressures and temperatures. Digging a well and pumping it out is how we obtain petroleum out of the ground.

Table of Content
  •  

Introduction:

Petroleum, often known as crude oil or oil, is a yellowish-black liquid that forms spontaneously in geological formations. It’s frequently processed into a variety of fuels and chemicals. Distillation is used to separate the components of petroleum. Petroleum is mostly made up of hydrocarbons, with traces of other organic molecules thrown in for good measure. Both naturally occurring unprocessed crude oil and petroleum products made up of refined crude oil are referred to as petroleum. Petroleum is a fossil fuel that is generated when enormous amounts of dead animals, usually zooplankton and algae, are buried beneath sedimentary rock and exposed to high heat and pressure over extended periods of time.

Elemental composition of Petroleum:

The elemental makeup of petroleum is well-defined, despite considerable variance in the ratios of organic molecules:

Carbon – 83 to 87%

Hydrogen – 10 to 14%

Nitrogen – 0.1 to 2%

Oxygen – 0.05 to 1.5%

Sulfur – 0.05 to 6.0%

Metals – < 0.1%

Iron, nickel, copper, and vanadium are the most common metals.

Hydrocarbons in Petroleum:

Crude oil has four different types of hydrocarbons:

paraffins (15-60%)

naphthenes (30-60%)

aromatics (3-30%)

asphaltics (remainder)

Alkanes, cycloalkanes, and aromatic hydrocarbons make up the majority of the hydrocarbons.

Industrial Fractions:

As  stated, petroleum may be broken down into usable elements. In fact, you may not realize it, but petroleum is likely responsible for a substantial portion of the products you rely on. For example, fertilizers for your lawn, some of the substances used in dry cleaning, Vaseline in chapstick, and even the asphalt on the highway are all made from petroleum. Not to mention the gas for your car and your home! Without petroleum, life would be a lot more difficult. These are all industrial fractions, or petroleum pieces that are divided down based on their chemical makeup.

Distillation, or heating the crude oil and separating it based on the different boiling points of the fractions, is usually the first step in breaking up the petroleum into its fractions.

Before we go any further, let’s have a look at some of the petroleum fractions in the table, which is listed from lowest to highest boiling point.

 

Name

Uses

Petroleum Gas

Liquified petroleum gas is used to heat homes, some is used in fertilizers

Gasoline

Fuel for cars, dry cleaner ingredient

Kerosene

Fuel for lanterns

Fuel oil

Fuel for buses, trucks, generators

Lubricating oil

Lubrication for certain types of machines

Paraffin wax

Ingredient in Vaseline, candles, certain makeup, and match sticks

Asphalt

Material in roads

Petroleum ether formula and structure:

Petroleum ether is a mixture, a percentage, rather than a compound. Aliphatic hydrocarbons, with the usual chemical formula  C2H2n + 2, make up this substance. Their only structural elements are C-C and C-H bonds, as well as a carbon skeleton. As a result, this compound does not have a formal chemical formula.

By definition, none of the hydrocarbons that make up petroleum ether include oxygen atoms. As a result, it’s not only not a compound, but it’s also not an ether. It is referred to as an ether because it has a boiling point that is similar to that of ethyl ether; the rest are unrelated.

Petroleum ether is composed of aliphatic hydrocarbons with short and linear chains of the form CH3(CH2)xCH3. It’s not unexpected that this liquid is volatile due to its low molecular mass. It is a suitable fat solvent because of its nonpolar nature, which is owing to the absence of oxygen or any other heteroatom or functional group.

Petroleum quartz meaning:

The faces are smooth and glossy, with no obvious striations, providing the ideal canvas for inclusions with no interference from the inside or outside.

Petroleum trapped in the voids and negative crystals is the most obvious inclusion. It’s often brilliant yellow, with a few brown spots.

Within the petroleum, some of them have methane bubbles. Some are mobile, while others are immovable. There is often a little quantity of water at the edges of the cavities, even if it is not readily visible.Black and dark asphaltite, the group name for bituminous hydrocarbons, can be found in many of these crystals.

Asphaltite can be found inside quartz without any fluid connection, and it can also be found inside petroleum holes. The asphaltite can move freely within the hollow in a few rare circumstances.The bubble goes slower on chilly days, but if you hold it for a few minutes, it heats up and begins to move quicker again.It’s already a fascinating substance because of this. But, on top of that, when exposed to long-wave UV radiation, it fluoresces vivid blue.

Quartz:

It’s a silicon dioxide mineral. SiO2 is a chemical formula. Quartz is formed when silica crystallizes. Approximately 14% of the earth’s crust. Rhombohedral crystalline quartz is a type of rhombohedral quartz. Large, colorless crystals make up the substance. As a result, it is considered one of the master stones in lithotherapy.

The most beautiful stone crystallized in the fractures due to a hydrothermal process. It’s found in silica-rich rock cracks. As a result, the name “rock crystal” was coined.

Other minerals are frequently found with it. Albite, orthose, and adular feldspars, as well as calcite The cut of a rock crystal determines its beauty. The temperature of hydrothermal solutions is the main source of information. They will be more gorgeous and translucent the higher they are.

They’re frequently grouped together in some way. As a result, a sheaf of quartz crystals resembled chrysanthemums.

Inclusions in some stones contain a variety of minerals. Rutile needles, as well as tourmaline, amphibole, and chlorite spangles, can be found. The existence of certain Elements causes the color of particular crystals. Manganese, iron oxides, and other mineral inclusions are examples.

Conclusion:

Exploitation of petroleum has serious environmental and social effects. Petroleum is one of the biggest contributors to climate change because the extraction, refining, and burning of petroleum fuels all emit huge amounts of greenhouse gasses.

Parts of the petroleum sector also intentionally suppressed science and legislation aimed at averting the climate problem. Other negative environmental repercussions include oil spills and air and water pollution at utilization sites, as well as the environmental implications of exploration and exploitation of petroleum reserves. All of these environmental factors have a direct impact on human health. Furthermore, oil has been a source of conflict, resulting in both state-led and other types of conflicts (for example, oil revenue funded the Islamic State).

 

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the NEET UG Examination Preparation.

What is the process of refining petroleum?

ANS. Petroleum refining, often known as oil refining, is a process that extracts crude oil from the earth and turns ...Read full

What is the purpose of a petroleum refinery?

ANS. Petroleum refineries turn crude oil into petroleum products for use as transportation fuel, cooking fuel, road ...Read full

What is petroleum and what are its applications?

ANS. Aviation fuels, heating and electricity-generating fuel oils, asphalt and road tar, and feedstocks for the addi...Read full

How do coal and petroleum get their names?

ANS. Coal and petroleum are created as a result of the annihilation of ancient plant life millions of years ago. The...Read full

ANS. Petroleum refining, often known as oil refining, is a process that extracts crude oil from the earth and turns it into usable products such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene, asphalt foundation, jet fuel, diesel, heating oil, and cooking oils.

ANS. Petroleum refineries turn crude oil into petroleum products for use as transportation fuel, cooking fuel, road paving fuel, and electricity generating fuel, as well as chemical feedstocks. The refining process breaks down crude oil into its constituent parts, which are then gradually reassembled into new products.

ANS. Aviation fuels, heating and electricity-generating fuel oils, asphalt and road tar, and feedstocks for the additives, plastics, and industrial materials found in practically everything we use are all petroleum products.

ANS. Coal and petroleum are created as a result of the annihilation of ancient plant life millions of years ago. These decomposing plant materials began to accumulate, eventually forming peat. Heat and pressure from geological processes turned these minerals into coal over time.

Crack NEET UG with Unacademy

Get subscription and access unlimited live and recorded courses from India’s best educators

  • Structured syllabus
  • Daily live classes
  • Ask doubts
  • Tests & practice
Learn more

Notifications

Get all the important information related to the NEET UG Examination including the process of application, important calendar dates, eligibility criteria, exam centers etc.

Best Books for NEET UG 2026 – Physics, Chemistry & Biology
How to Prepare for NEET UG 2026 at Home Without Coaching?
Last 10 Years NEET UG Question Papers – Download NEET UG Previous Year Question Paper with Solutions PDFs
NEET UG 2025 Counselling – Schedule, Dates, Fees, Seat Allotment
NEET UG 2026 Registration Date Extension
NEET UG 2026 Registration Process
NEET UG Answer Key 2025 – Download PDF
NEET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026: Minimum Age, Required Codes, and Attempts
NEET UG Exam Analysis
NEET UG Exam Calendar
NEET UG Exam Information
NEET UG EXAM PATTERN 2026
NEET UG Hall Ticket 2026 – Check Steps to Download
NEET UG Marking Scheme
NEET UG Previous Papers Analysis
NEET UG Registration Fees
NEET UG Results 2025 (OUT): Download Link @neet.nta.nic.in, NEET Score card
NEET UG Syllabus 2026
NEET UG Syllabus 2026 with Chapter-wise Weightage
See all

Related articles

Learn more topics related to Chemistry
ZWITTERION

In this chapter we will discuss zwitterion,characteristics of zwitterion, isoelectric point, pH value, and application.At last we will discuss some important questions related to zwitterion.

ZONE REFINING OF METALS

What is zone refining and what is its significance in manufacturing transistors? Click here to get more info on the aforementioned topic.

Ziegler Natta Catalyst

In this chapter we will discuss Ziegler natta catalyst, discovery, preparation, mechanism and applications. At last we will discuss this ziegler natta catalyst.

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

In this lecture we’re going to learn about the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics, zeroth law of thermodynamics, state zeroth law of thermodynamics and significance of zeroth law of thermodynamics.

See all
Access more than

9,257+ courses for NEET UG

Get subscription

Trending Topics

  • NEET Preparation Tips
  • NEET 2024 Preparation Tips
  • How to Prepare for NEET from Class 11?
  • How to Prepare for NEET?
  • NEET 2024
  • NEET Syllabus 2024
  • NEET Question Paper
  • NEET Exam Pattern
  • NEET Notification
  • NEET Exam Calendar
  • NEET Results
  • NEET Eligibility
  • NEET Preparation Books
Download NEET Formulas

NEET Previous Year Question Papers

  • NEET 2022 Question Paper
  • NEET 2021 Question Paper
  • NEET 2020 Question Paper
  • NEET 2019 Question Paper
  • NEET 2018 Question Paper
combat_neetug

Related links

  • NEET Study Materials
  • How Many Attempts for NEET
  • How Many Marks Are Required in NEET for MBBS
  • Living World NEET Questions
  • MBBS Full Form
  • NEET Full Form
  • Physics NEET Syllabus
freeliveclasses_neetug
Download NEET 2023 question paper
Company Logo

Unacademy is India’s largest online learning platform. Download our apps to start learning


Starting your preparation?

Call us and we will answer all your questions about learning on Unacademy

Call +91 8585858585

Company
About usShikshodayaCareers
we're hiring
BlogsPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
Help & support
User GuidelinesSite MapRefund PolicyTakedown PolicyGrievance Redressal
Products
Learner appLearner appEducator appEducator appParent appParent app
Popular goals
IIT JEEUPSCSSCCSIR UGC NETNEET UG
Trending exams
GATECATCANTA UGC NETBank Exams
Study material
UPSC Study MaterialNEET UG Study MaterialCA Foundation Study MaterialJEE Study MaterialSSC Study Material

© 2025 Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt Ltd

Unacademy
  • Goals
    • AFCAT
    • AP EAMCET
    • Bank Exam
    • BPSC
    • CA Foundation
    • CAPF
    • CAT
    • CBSE Class 11
    • CBSE Class 12
    • CDS
    • CLAT
    • CSIR UGC
    • GATE
    • IIT JAM
    • JEE
    • Karnataka CET
    • Karnataka PSC
    • Kerala PSC
    • MHT CET
    • MPPSC
    • NDA
    • NEET PG
    • NEET UG
    • NTA UGC
    • Railway Exam
    • SSC
    • TS EAMCET
    • UPSC
    • WBPSC
    • CFA

Share via

COPY