Petroleum

Petroleum is the common name of a series of rock oils found beneath the earth. It is a complex mixture containing various hydrocarbons (compunds of carbon and hydrogen), in addition to small amounts of other organic compunds containing oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur. In the beginning it was found in large quantities in the United States and Canada, near Rangoon, in the neighbourhood of the Caspian Sea, and few more areas, but now its exploration is spread in several parts of the world. The oil issues from the rocks, or is drawn from subterranean reservoirs, where its presence is supposed to result from natural distillation of vegetable and animal substances, and after refining, put in the market as benzoline, paraffin, and lubricating oil. It is extensively used in the industries, automobiles and steamships etc as fossil fuel.

Nearby pages
Petroleuse, Petronius, Petty Jury, Petty Officers, Petty Sessions