Kerosene facts for kids
Kerosene, also known as paraffin or lamp oil, is a liquid fuel that burns easily. It comes from petroleum, which is crude oil. Kerosene is used in many ways, from powering jet engines to lighting lamps and cooking food in homes.
A Canadian inventor named Abraham Pineo Gesner first made kerosene in 1854. He even registered it as a brand name. But over time, 'kerosene' became a common word for this type of fuel. Sometimes, you might see it spelled 'kerosine' in science or industry.
The name 'kerosene' is popular in countries like Argentina, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and the United States. In other places, like Chile, parts of Africa, and the United Kingdom, it's called 'paraffin'. In most of Asia, it's known as 'lamp oil'.
Kerosene is widely used to power jet engines in airplanes and some rocket engines. It's also a common fuel for cooking and lighting. Some people even use it for fire performances, like fire poi. In parts of Asia, kerosene can fuel small boat motors or even motorcycles. People around the world use a lot of kerosene every day.
To keep people safe, kerosene containers are often colored differently from gasoline containers. This helps prevent confusion, as gasoline is much more flammable. For example, in Pennsylvania, USA, kerosene containers are blue. Gasoline containers are red, and diesel fuel containers are yellow.
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Uses of Kerosene
Heating and Lighting Homes
Kerosene was once very popular for lighting lamps and lanterns. It replaced whale oil as a fuel. However, kerosene lamps could be dangerous. In 1880, almost half of all fires in New York City were caused by faulty kerosene lamps.
In many places where people are still building up their communities, kerosene is a key source of energy. It helps with cooking and lighting. Backpackers often use it in small, portable stoves. Kerosene is also used in portable heaters, and you can buy it at some gas stations. It can be a good way to stay warm if the power goes out.
In Japan, kerosene is a common fuel for home heaters. You can easily buy it at gas stations or have it delivered to your house. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, kerosene is used for heating in areas without natural gas pipelines. It's also a popular fuel for certain types of kitchen stoves, like Rayburn cookers.
The Amish people, who generally do not use electricity, rely on kerosene for lighting their homes at night. In the past, kerosene heaters were often part of kitchen stoves. They helped keep farm and fishing families warm in winter. Large kerosene heaters, called "salamanders," are used on construction sites to dry materials and warm workers. Before electric lights, highway construction zones used kerosene torches to mark areas at night.
Cooking with Kerosene
In countries like India and Nigeria, kerosene is the main cooking fuel, especially for families with lower incomes. Kerosene stoves have replaced traditional wood-burning stoves. Because of this, changes in kerosene prices can have big effects. The Indian government helps keep the price low. This makes sure people don't cut down forests for cooking wood.
Kerosene is also used in portable stoves, like the famous Primus stoves invented in 1892. These portable kerosene stoves are known for being reliable and strong. They work well in tough conditions, such as during outdoor adventures and mountaineering.
Kerosene in Transportation
In the middle of the 20th century, kerosene was a cheap fuel for tractors. The engine would start on gasoline, then switch to kerosene once it was warm. After World War II in Europe, some cars were changed to run on kerosene instead of gasoline.
During the fuel crisis of the 1970s, a car company called Saab-Valmet made a car called the Saab 99 Petro. It could run on kerosene, turpentine, or gasoline. Kerosene was taxed less than gasoline in Finland, which made it a cheaper option.
A special type of kerosene, called 'ultra-low sulfur kerosene', is used by the New York City Transit Authority. They use it to power their bus fleet. They started using this fuel in 2004, before a similar fuel, ultra-low-sulfur diesel, became common.
Kerosene also fuels some smaller boat motors made by Yamaha, Suzuki, and Tohatsu. These are dual-fuel engines. They start on gasoline and then switch to kerosene once the engine is warm. Some Evinrude and Mercury Racing engines can also burn kerosene and jet fuel.
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Today, kerosene is mostly used as jet fuel for airplanes. It comes in different types for this use. Kerosene is sometimes added to diesel fuel to stop it from getting thick in cold weather. JP-8 is a kerosene-based fuel used by the United States military. They use it in diesel vehicles and for powering aircraft. JP-8 also fuels heaters, stoves, tanks, and almost all military ground vehicles and generators.
Kerosene in Entertainment
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Kerosene is often used in the entertainment industry for fire performances. These include fire breathing, fire juggling, and fire dancing. Kerosene burns at a lower temperature in open air. This means there is less risk if the performer accidentally touches the flame. However, kerosene is usually not recommended for indoor fire dancing. It can produce an unpleasant smell, and the fumes can be harmful in a closed space.
Other Uses of Kerosene
As a product made from petroleum, kerosene can be used as a solvent. This means it can dissolve other petroleum products, like chain grease. Kerosene can help remove stubborn gum, glue, or sticky residue from glass surfaces.
It can also be used to remove candle wax from glass. First, scrape off the extra wax. Then, apply kerosene with a cloth or tissue. Kerosene is also good for cleaning old grease from bicycle and motorcycle chains before putting on new lubricant.
Some artists use kerosene to thin oil-based paints. They might also use it to clean their paint brushes. However, it can leave the brush bristles feeling greasy. Kerosene also has uses in controlling mosquitoes by killing their larvae.
Safety and Kerosene
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It is very dangerous to swallow kerosene. It can cause serious illness or even be fatal. Some old folk remedies suggested using kerosene to kill head lice. However, health experts strongly warn against this. Kerosene can cause burns and serious health problems if used on skin or hair. Breathing in kerosene fumes can also be very harmful.
People who work with kerosene can be exposed to it by breathing it in, swallowing it, or getting it on their skin or in their eyes. Safety organizations set limits for how much kerosene vapor can be in the air at work.
Images for kids
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The Persian scholar Rāzi was the first to make kerosene by distilling it in the 800s.
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People waiting in line for kerosene in Moscow, Russia, in the 1920s.
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Abraham Pineo Gesner first made kerosene from coal and oil shale in 1846. It began to be produced for sale in 1854.
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Old kerosene stoves from India.
See also
In Spanish: Queroseno para niños
