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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: zak on April 11, 2013, 03:27:03 PM

Title: Difference between cooking oil and petroleum
Post by: zak on April 11, 2013, 03:27:03 PM

Hi,

I am confused about the difference between cooking oil and petroleum?  What is the main thing that differentiate it?I have searched it but i didnot got satisfactory results.  I need details and it would be great if someone can provide me any reference or book which have all the details about it.

Thanks

zak

Title: Re: Difference between cooking oil and petroleum
Post by: curiouscat on April 11, 2013, 04:02:11 PM

Quote from: zak on April 11, 2013, 03:27:03 PM

I need details and it would be great if someone can provide me any reference or book which have all the details about it.

Google?

Title: Re: Difference between cooking oil and petroleum
Post by: Arkcon on April 11, 2013, 04:15:00 PM

Cooking oil and petroleum are mixtures, so they contain populations of various compounds.  That said, if you look them up, you will find some examples, and you will see some obvious similarities, and some obvious differences.  And the place you find should have some info on why the differences are important for some of their properties.  Wikipedia is a good start.  Just be prepared for lots of link clicking, before you understand the problem.

Title: Re: Difference between cooking oil and petroleum
Post by: vmelkon on April 15, 2013, 05:31:14 PM

Cooking oil comes from plants and it is usually liquid. Plants produce a variety of oils. You probably have heard the term monounsaturated fatty acids,  polyunsaturated fatty acids, saturated, omega-3, omega-6, omega-9.
Have a look at the molecule of a few of these. They all have a  3 carbon backbone.

Petroleum? I'm going to assume this means mineral oil or petroleum oil. These are straight chain alkanes. Again,it is best to look at the molecule and compare to cooking oils.