Oils, Creams
Oil, in a general sense, is a chemical compound that is not miscible with water, and is in a liquid state at ambient temperatures. Such substances are sometimes described as hydrophobic (meaning water hating) or lipophilic (meaning fat loving). more...
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Emulsifiers allow oils and water to mix.
Examples
Biological
Vegetable oil, non-volatile oils extracted from plants, usually the seeds;
Essential oil, volatile aromatic oils extracted from plants;
Animal fat, obtained from animal sources;
Synthetic
Synthetic oil, manufactured from smaller molecules using chemical processes;
Applications
- Cooking oil
Edible vegetable and animal oils are frequently used in cooking, due to their ability to reach higher temperatures than water. They also serve as a flavour enhancer and as a supporting medium for vitamins and aromas.
- Fuel oil
Oils contain a large amount of stored energy, which can be converted by burning into other forms of energy. Fuel oil is used for heating, lighting (c.f. kerosene lamp) and powering combustion engines. Oils used for this purpose are usually derived from petroleum, but biological sources of energy are being evaluated as an alternative to the increasingly expensive crude oil.
- Lubrication
Due to their non-polarity, oils do not easily adhere to other substances. This makes them useful as lubricants for various engineering purposes. Suitable oils are often found in the mineral spectrum, as biological oils degrade quickly in most environmental conditions.
- Petrochemistry
Petrochemistry is the process of refining crude oil into useful raw materials, plastics, and other oils.
- Heat transport
Many oils have higher boiling points than water and lower electrical conductivity, allowing them to be used for liquid cooling systems, especially where electricity is used.
- Painting
Color pigments can be easily suspended in oil, making it suitable as supporting medium for paints. The slow drying process and miscibility of oil facilitates a realistic style. This method has been used since the 15th century.
- Religion
Oils have been used throughout history as a fragrant or religious medium. Oil is often seen as a spiritually purifying agent.
Read more at Wikipedia.org
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