What is Oil: Definition and 575 Discussions

An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures and is both hydrophobic (does not mix with water, literally "water fearing") and lipophilic (mixes with other oils, literally "fat loving"). Oils have a high carbon and hydrogen content and are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturated lipids that are liquid at room temperature.
The general definition of oil includes classes of chemical compounds that may be otherwise unrelated in structure, properties, and uses. Oils may be animal, vegetable, or petrochemical in origin, and may be volatile or non-volatile. They are used for food (e.g., olive oil), fuel (e.g., heating oil), medical purposes (e.g., mineral oil), lubrication (e.g. motor oil), and the manufacture of many types of paints, plastics, and other materials. Specially prepared oils are used in some religious ceremonies and rituals as purifying agents.

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  1. N

    Solving for Area: An Oil Slick of Radius 3.0 km

    Homework Statement 1. An oil tanker springs a leak creating a circular oil slick that grows until its radius is 3.0 km. a.) What is the formula describing the relation between the area of the slick and its radius? Homework Equations Area of a circle: (pi)r^2 The Attempt at a...
  2. L

    Millikan's oil drop experiment direction

    Homework Statement Revered members, Kindly see my attachment. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution When the charged oil drop is balanced, electric force = weight of oil drop. Eq = mg Eq = F + U, where F is the viscous force and U is the upthrust force. Since the oil...
  3. R

    Can Paraffin Oil Improve Transformer Insulation?

    Hi Gents. I've to use a transformer ( "R" Core), primary to mains and secondary (2 X 9 V) connected to high voltage source of about 8 kV. I am going, in order to improve primary to secondary insulation, to place this transformer in a paraffin oil "bath". Is it a good idea ?
  4. N

    Find the Volume of an Oil Deposit

    Homework Statement A geologist searching for oil finds that the gravity at a certain location is 5 parts in 10^7 smaller than average. Assume that a deposit of oil is located 2000 meters directly below. Estimate the size of the deposit, assumed spherical. Take the density (mass per unit...
  5. X

    Optics - Two lenses touching each other with oil inbetween

    Homework Statement Two identical, thin, plano-convex lenses with radii of curvature of 15 cm are situated with their curved surfaces in contact at their centers. The intervening space is filled with oil of refractive index 1.65. The index of the glass is 1.50. Determine the focal length of...
  6. estro

    Why not collecting ALL of the used cooking oil and transform it into biodiesel?

    I know biodiesel could be made from used cooking oil. Also I know that we use a lot of cooking oil. [fast food industry for example] Why not collecting ALL of the used cooking oil and transform it into biodiesel? What are the shortcomings? Relevant Link...
  7. F

    Do you use oil or butter when frying eggs?

    Okay I just saw a video on cracking eggs and this woman used butter into the pan and then cracks the egg into the pan. I use sunflower oil. Does anyone know why butter is a substitute? Also what does garlic do when you stir fry? Is this question way too random? thanks
  8. P

    Work pumping oil out of partially filled horizontal tank

    Homework Statement "Oil weighing 9000N/m3 is to be pumped out of the top of a horizontal cylindrical tank of radius 5m and length 15m. Set up an integral to find the work required to pump out the oil to the top of the tank if the depth of the oil is 4m." Homework Equations I used y =...
  9. M

    What is the name for the colorful effect produced by oil on water?

    Oil produce many colors when it kept upon water and exposed to light.What is the phenomena?
  10. A

    Medical Effect of applying oil to head and having oil bath

    In our place people use to apply vegetable oil for head,( and to body at times) and have a bath after half an hour or so. They say it keeps them cool. A kind of effect induced by mint shampoo. I don't understand how it works. But would love to know it.
  11. W

    Oil Formation: From Ancient Life to Modern Resource

    Quote : Oil is commonly formed in rock or in sealed pockets under the seabed and it is from the Latin for ‘rock oil’ that the word ‘Petroleum’ is derived, though this umbrella term also covers natural gas as well as oil. What we commonly refer to simply as ‘oil’ is properly known as mineral...
  12. F

    Non-hydrogenated peanut oil becomes hydrogenated when heated?

    Can't find a reliable source on the internet for the answer to this question. Some claim that heating peanut oil at high enough temps to fry food causes the oil to become partially hydrogenated therefore causing it to become an "unhealthy" oil. Is this true?
  13. C

    Physics What the oil and gas job market says for a new geophysics grad.

    Hi everyone, does anyone know what the typical job market is like for recent graduates in the geophysics field. I mean given the price of oil and the global financial crisis does one even stand a chance. I like to hear from some of you who are in the geoscience field as well. I know Alberta...
  14. I

    Finding the area of an oil slick

    Homework Statement Assume that an oil slick consists of a single layer of molecules and that each molecule occupies a cube 0.792 nm on a side. Determine the area of an oil slick formed by 1.56 m^3 of oil. Answer in units of m^2. Homework Equations 1 nanometer = 1.0E9 meters The...
  15. K

    What was the conclusion of the Milikan oil drop experiment?

    just a question on our test today. what's the right answer? a) the mass to charge ratio of an electron is very small. b) the speed of electrons is very great c) the electron has a negative charge d) the proton has a negative charge e) there exists a smallest fundamental negative charge...
  16. C

    Heating oil: effective or real output/yield (per liter)

    Heating oil: effective or "real" output/yield (per liter) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heating_oil" says that which is about 11 kWh/L. I was given an unbiased (but not necessarily correct) number that the effective output is about 8 kWh/L ... ... and a potentially biased number (from a...
  17. A

    Fluids, finding the density of a sphere in oil Please help

    Homework Statement A small sphere (diameter = 10 mm) is left to fall in a fluid (oil, SAEIOW) at 200 degrees with a constant velocity of 50 mm/s.. The Following data is available: - For SAEIOW oil at 20 degrees: p = 920 kg/m3, μ = 0.1 Pa.s a) The drag force on the sphere b) The...
  18. K

    News US and Oil: Examining the War Claims in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya

    I often hear people charge that the US went to war in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya over oil. What reason do I have to believe that this is the case? I haven't heard a single report of the US extracting any oil at all from these countries.
  19. K

    Optimum Oil Pipeline Flow Rate & Angle

    Homework Statement You wish to design an oil pipeline such that the flow rate under gravity alone will be as large as possible while remaining non-turbulent. the diameter is .45m, the viscosity is .385 n-sec/m^2, and the reynolds number is 2000. (a) what is the maximum flow rate you can...
  20. A

    Oil Drop Between Two Metal Plates

    Homework Statement Two horizontal metal plates are 1cm apart in air. An oil drop bearing a charge of one electronic unit is balanced between the plates when the potential difference between them is 800volts. Find the mass of the drop. Homework Equations I may need to use some...
  21. C

    Is an Oil Distribution System Necessary for Optimal Oil Immersion Microscopy?

    For oil immersion microscopy, I understand that the oil is required to increase the numerical aperture, and thus the resolution, of the lens. I have tried looking into these microscopes and the only method I have seen of applying the oil is to place a dot of it on the lens and then lower the...
  22. F

    Oil and Water Experiment Question

    Hey everybody, I am currently in the process of coming up with a neat experiment for my thermodynamics class and I ran into some trouble. In my thermo class we were discuss phases, and separations and such, and I thought it would be cool to show how ice is less dense than oil and will float, but...
  23. M

    How do I calculate the surface area of an oil slick?

    Homework Statement A certain crude oil has an index of refraction of 1.24. A ship dumps 1.39 m^3 of this oil into the ocean, and the oil spreads into a thin uniform slick. If the film produces a first-order maximum of light of wavelength 517 nm normally incident on it, how much surface area of...
  24. H

    How hot is the fire caused by burning Vegetable Oil?

    I actually would like to know two things... How hot is the fire from burning vegetable oil straight up? (like in a bowl) and How hot is vegetable oil fire when a bowl of oil is on fire and then water is poured onto it? (big fire) I googled but only found flash point info and how to...
  25. R

    Used Car Engine Oil: What Mechanics Do & How to Filter

    I was wondering what do mechanics do with used car engine oils( lubricants)? Like are they recyclable ..... I know how water and Oil can be separated , but how does one filter dust and other particles from oils.... thanks in advance
  26. N

    Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment graphing problem

    1. During a Millikan oil drop experiment, a student recorded the weight of 5 different oil drops. A record was also made of the Electric field intensity necessary to hold the drop stationary between thew two horizontal plates. Data: Weight x 10^-14 N 1.7 2.9 4.0 5.6 6.1...
  27. L

    Is Oil Amphipathic or Hydrophobic?

    Homework Statement Soap is amphipathic; it has a hydrophobic hydrocarbon and a polar carboxylate group. But here's where I'm getting confused; in oil, such as peanut oil for example, is it amphipathic or only hydrophobic? I looked everywhere and in some books it says that its amphipathic...
  28. P

    Computation of direct warming of atmosphere by burning oil

    What is wrong with this computation ? (1) Mass of Earth's atmosphere is 5 x 10^18 Kg. (2) The heat capacity of dry air, Cp, is 1 KJ/Kg-K (3) BP states that the amount of fossil fuels burned worldwide in year 2008 was 11,295 million tons. Round that to 11 billion tons. (This may be...
  29. S

    How Is the Charge on a Suspended Oil Drop Determined in Millikan's Experiment?

    In Milikan's experiment, an oil drop of radius 1.64x10^-6 m and density of 0.851 g/cm^3 is suspended in a chamber where the downward electric field of 1.92x10^5 N/C is applied. Find the charge on the on drop. I know that F=qE, but the drop is suspended so it can't really a force because it...
  30. G

    As we have so many oil mines around the world, how large are these

    As we have so many oil mines around the world, how large are these holes left behind, and what is put in place of the oil that is taken out. wouldn't the pressure be different? and what would happen if a oil cavern collapsed?
  31. I

    Exploring the Refractive Properties of an Oil Slick

    A scientist notices that an oil slick floating on water when viewed from above has many different rainbow colors reflecting off the surface. She aims a spectrometer at a particular spot and measures the wavelength to be 750 nm (in air). The index of refraction of water is 1.33 Now assume that...
  32. nismaratwork

    News What is the Status of Oil Cleanup in Louisiana?

    http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/08/louisiana.oil.still.present/index.html?hpt=T2 As with everything from CNN, this is a bit of a mixed bag. I was wondering if people here had any information as to the current state of this, or if this is a matter of HOW the cleanup proceeds, not if it can...
  33. S

    Oil density and viscosity a 20°C

    Hi, I'm performing some calculations and I need oil viscosity at 20°C. I have checked in some standards like SAE or ISO, but the lowest temperature I have found is 40°C. How may I extrapolate the viscosity a 20°C? Moreover I need a precise value of oil density, does someone know this value...
  34. hagopbul

    News On Iran , Gulf and oil price

    Now there is a big problem in the Gulf ...it is a major oil rout to the world not only us ! What we can do to prevent a full cut to this by war if its start? and how we can cut the shipping costs to EU and US How we can get ride of the pirates[Somali] problem and its effects there...
  35. S

    Thermo fluid or oil and gas scope?

    hi...i'm a mechanical student..this semester I'm taking thesis subject and i must find a topic about these two of my fav scope before this week..thermo fluid and in oil and gas industry...and i just want to know which one of these is better for me to concentrate on my thesis? but first, i search...
  36. S

    Thin film oil drop interference

    Homework Statement Hi all, i have a question on thin film interference. Lets say there is an oil drop on the surface of water. Light reflected from the oil drop is observed from above. Explain why interference fringes are not seen when the thickness of the oil drop increases...
  37. S

    Help with Base oil viscosity on grease

    hi all can someone explain me the units of Base oil viscosity of grease? for example is there a difference between grease rated at 200cSt and 200 mm2/s if so then what is the meaning of cSt and what does it stand for? thanks
  38. M

    Medical Fish Oil & Niacin: Quality Supplements for Blood Pressure & Cholesterol?

    Would anyone have recomendations about a supplement that is rigorusly tested and has high QA? Is Niacin Inositol in 2000 mg effective for blood pressure and LDL cholesterol? DHA and EPA, arent these the two that are really effective in most studys? How much is recomended? TY to anyone...
  39. J

    Frequency of ultrasounds to obtain oil drops in water?

    ¿Frequency of ultrasounds to obtain oil drops in water? Homework Statement To obtain microemulsions of oil into water ultrasounds are used. ¿What is the frequency to obtain oil drops of 1 microgram which density is 0.995 g/cm3? (It does not need to be exact, with only the order of magnitude...
  40. L

    Making a pressure vessel out of an oil barrel

    Hi, I want to build a pressure vessel for casting Polyurethane under pressure. Does anyone know if it is safe to put an oil barrel under a pressure of 60 PSI ? (It has to be a barrel that can be opened and closed with a lid, other wise I can't put the mold in. :smile: )
  41. Z

    Made biodiesel from pumpkin oil

    i have made biodiesel from pumpkin oil and samples of B10 B20,...,B100. i want to get optical properties of these samples.what should be these poperties?i want to determine refractive index and also want to use raman spectroscopy.can i do this??can i use raman?
  42. S

    Hollow conducting sphere floating in oil

    Homework Statement A hollow sphere of gold floats in a large lake of oil of dielectric constant \kappa=3.3. The sphere is half immersed in the oil, and has a total charge of 2.2*10^-6 Coulombs. What fraction of this electric charge on the sphere is above the oil surface? Homework...
  43. J

    Millikan's oil drop experiment-terminal velocity.

    Homework Statement Find the terminal velocity of an oil drop with radius 1x10^-6 m at 20 degress under zero field conditions. How long would it take to fall 5mm (range of microscope graticule)? Homework Equations Terminal velocity; Weight = Drag Weight = mg Assuming Stokes law holds...
  44. Q

    How Thick Is the Oil Film for Red and No Light Interference?

    Problem A thin film of oil (n = 1.30) is located on a smooth, wet pavement. When viewed perpendicular to the pavement, the film reflects most strongly red light at 640 nm and reflects no light at 548 nm. How thick is the oil film? Equations and Attempt Refractive index: air - 1 oil -...
  45. D

    Enhanced oil recovery and CO2:ecological aspect?

    I came about a rather discomforting company description (Enhanced oil resources Inc.) which seem to own the claim on a huge CO2 containing geological formation: http://www.enhancedoilres.com/company.htm Apparently they plan to exploit this formation which contains an estimated amount of 15...
  46. A

    Convection of charged particles in oil subject to DC bias

    Hi all, I have recently observed a very strange thing (or rather, I shall say unexpected phenomenon). When I deposited some charged micro-particles between 2 electrodes (vertical plates) with a DC bias in hexadecane oil, I expected the negatively charged particles to go to the positive...
  47. Evo

    Gulf oil platform explodes, burning off La. coast

    Unreal. Could it have been sabotaged? They do not know yet if it is leaking oil. The people on the rig are ok. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_gulf_rig_explosion
  48. S

    Powdered Graphite in engine oil

    From a chemical point of view, what are some of your thoughts about powdered graphite in engine oil? I think it would work very well because it would suspend particles between the graphene sheets.
  49. hagopbul

    News Case Scenario: Iran's Nuclear Program & Oil Prices

    i am allways looking to the news on daily bases and i believe the fallowing: Iran can not use WMD on Israel duo to the fact of existing MAD situation Iran Can not deliver WMD , poor technology Science are in syria and Egypt not Iran now what bad thing can come from Iran N...
  50. R

    How Long Does It Take for an Oil Drop to Travel Between Charged Plates?

    Homework Statement A pair of horizontal parallel plates are placed a small distance, 4.50 mm, apart in air. Each plate is rectangular with a width of 10.0 cm, and length of 46.0 cm. The potential on the upper plate relative to the lower plate is 1.03 × 103 V. A tiny drop of oil with an...
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