Kerosene is a combustible liquid obtained from petroleum distillation. It’s used for heating, lighting, fueling vehicles and aircraft, and as a substitute for alcohol in folk medicine.
Kerosene, also known as paraffin oil, is a combustible liquid obtained from the distillation of petroleum at a high temperature. It has been widely produced since 1846, although it only became popular as a useful element a few years later and only thanks to the work of various chemists in remote corners of the world. The Kerosene Gaslight Company, founded in 1851, was the first company in the world to sell this fuel for both commercial and domestic use.
The primary uses of kerosene are for heating and fueling vehicles. Until the invention of electricity, it was the main source of lighting, as it was widely used in household lanterns. It is still used for that purpose by the Amish, but this fuel is considered too dangerous to use in enclosed areas and its use as a source of lighting is discouraged by many health agencies. Kerosene-based heaters, however, are popular in Asia, where the liquid is readily available, and in outdoor supply stores, where it is sold as an alternative fuel for camping stoves.
Kerosene is used as the primary fuel source for many types of aircraft, including rockets, although in this case the fuel is mixed with liquid oxygen to produce a sufficient heat source. While there are no cars that can run on this product, many people use it to extend the life of their gasoline or to keep their gas from freezing during the winter. It’s important to note that this fuel is as volatile as gasoline, so it should always be handled with care.
Although kerosene is deadly if ingested, it has been used throughout history to treat a variety of ailments. Folk medicine sees it as a powerful antidote for snakebites, and it is also often used to kill lice and prevent mosquitoes from reproducing. In underdeveloped countries with limited access to medicines, it is often used as a substitute for alcohol to treat cuts and burns, stop bleeding, and for athlete’s foot and hemorrhoids.
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