Petroleum product facts for kids

Motor oil is a common petroleum product.

Petroleum products are useful things made from crude oil (also called petroleum). Crude oil is a thick, dark liquid found deep underground. It's not very useful on its own.

To make it useful, crude oil goes through a special process called refining. This happens in big factories called oil refineries. Refining changes the crude oil into many different products that we use every day.

Well-known petroleum products include:

• Gasoline and Diesel fuel: These are used to power cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): This gas is used for heating homes and cooking.
• Other fuels: Such as fuel oil for heating and Kerosene for lamps or jet engines.
• Asphalt: A sticky, black material used to make roads. It's a bit like a special kind of concrete.
• Paraffin wax: Used for candles, crayons, and even some food coatings.
• Tar: A thick, dark liquid used for sealing roofs and roads.
• Plastics: Many types of plastics, which make up countless items around us, come from petroleum.

Besides these common products, oil refineries also create other important materials. These include:

• Propane and other gases: Used for heating, cooking, and industrial processes.
• Sulfur: A yellow element used in many industries, including making Sulfuric acid.
• Lubricants: Different oils and greases that help machines run smoothly.
• Industrial waxes: Used in various manufacturing processes.

How Crude Oil Becomes Useful Products

Crude oil is a mix of many different chemicals. When it arrives at an oil refinery, it is heated to very high temperatures. This turns the oil into a gas. The gas then goes into tall towers called "fractionation columns."

Inside these towers, the gas cools down at different heights. As it cools, different parts of the oil turn back into liquids at different levels. Lighter products like gasoline rise higher, while heavier products like asphalt stay lower. This process separates the crude oil into its many useful parts.

Why Petroleum Products Are Important

Petroleum products are very important for our modern world. They power our transportation, heat our homes, and are used to make countless items we use daily. From the clothes we wear to the medicines we take, many things have a connection to petroleum.

However, it's also important to remember that petroleum is a fossil fuel. This means it formed over millions of years from ancient plants and animals. There is a limited amount of it on Earth. Scientists are always working to find new ways to power our world and make products using other sources.

Images for kids

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  A petrochemical refinery in Grangemouth, Scotland. This is where crude oil is turned into useful products.

See also

In Spanish: Derivado del petróleo para niños