Uses Of Petroleum: Advantages & Disadvantages

Petroleum is a fossil fuel made from dead and decaying organisms. It is the basic source of energy used in transportation. Kerosene, propane, butane and gasoline are a few derivatives of petroleum. It is vicious and through derivatives can easily get converted to any raw product.

Also Read: Natural Sources of Energy

Key Terms: Petrol, Fuel, Petroleum, Composition Of Petroleum, Energy, Fossil Fuel, Renewable Source Of Energy, Environment

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What Is Petroleum?

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Petroleum also known as black gold is a naturally occurring crude oil on which human life is dependent. It is a fossil fuel found deep under the earth’s crust. 

Petroleum is discussed below:

• Petroleum can be seen as either yellow or black in colour. 
• It is a versatile liquid mixture of hydrocarbon.
• Petroleum is a nonrenewable source of energy.
• Refined petroleum raises useful by-products which are used for domestic and commercial purposes.

Petroleum

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Uses Of Petroleum

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The uses and applications of petroleum in different sectors are:

• Petroleum In Agriculture

• Petroleum is used to manufacture ammonia which is used as a fertilizer.
• Petroleum is used in the production of fertilizers.
• The types of machinery used in agriculture mainly work on petroleum.

• Petroleum In Domestic Use

• Vaseline which is used on the face is made from petroleum.
• Wax, and kerosene used at home are produced using petroleum. 

• Petroleum In Transportation

• Petroleum accounts for two-thirds of the total transportation fuel globally.
• Gasoline/petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), jet fuel, and marine fuel are the major transportation fuels obtained from petroleum.

Illustration Of Crude Oil

• Petroleum In Pharmaceuticals

• Petroleum is used as a by-product for manufacturing topical medicines.
• Petroleum is used in complex organic molecules

• Petroleum In Power Generation

• In thermal power plants petroleums are used for electricity generation.
• The petroleum in the power plants is converted into other forms of energy.

• Petroleum In Lubricants

• Petroleum in mainly all industries are used as a lubricant to reduce friction.
• Petroleum reduces heat between mechanical components

• Petroleum In Chemical Industry

• In chemical companies raw materials are by-products of petroleum refineries.
• Products in the chemical industry produced using petroleum by-products are synthetic fibres, insecticides, synthetic rubber, dyes, paints etc.

Also Read: Differences between Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources of Energy

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Advantages Of Petroleum

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The advantages of petroleum are:

• Petroleum is easy to extract.
• Petroleum is cost efficient.
• Petroleum has density.
• Petroleum is essentially used in the cosmetic industry.
• Petroleum is a stable energy source.
• Petroleum is easy to transport.
• Petroleum is multipurpose.

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Disadvantages Of Petroleum

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The advantages of petroleum are:

• Petroleum is unfriendly to the environment.
• The transportation of petroleum spills.
• Petroleum is a scanty resource.
• Petroleum releases hazardous toxins.
• Petroleum contributes to acid rain.

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Things To Remember

• Petroleum is also known as black gold.
• Petroleum can be seen as either yellow or black in colour. 
• Petroleum is used in the production of fertilizers.
• Petroleum is used in complex organic molecules.
• Petroleum is unfriendly to the environment.