Coal oil

Coal Oil

Coal oil (/koʊl ɔɪl/), also known as kerosene, is a flammable hydrocarbon liquid. The term "coal oil" is historically linked to kerosene lamps and stoves, among other uses.

Etymology

The term "coal oil" comes from its production process. It was originally made by distilling coal, and was known as "coal oil" to differentiate it from similar products like whale oil. The term "kerosene" is derived from the Greek word "keros" (wax).

Production

Coal oil is produced from the destructive distillation of coal, a process known as coal gasification. This process involves heating coal in the absence of air or in limited air supply, breaking down the complex organic molecules into simpler molecules or elemental atoms.

Uses

Coal oil was primarily used for lighting before the advent of electric lights. It was also used for cooking and heating. Today, it is primarily used as a fuel in jet engines and in heating and lighting applications in developing countries.

Health Effects

Exposure to coal oil can cause several health problems, including skin and eye irritation, respiratory problems, and in severe cases, can lead to chemical pneumonia. Long-term exposure can lead to more serious health issues like cancer.

Related Terms

• Coal gasification
• Kerosene lamp
• Chemical pneumonia
• Whale oil

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Coal oil
• Wikipedia's article - Coal oil

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski