Oil

Before, countries used to wage war over land and riches. Now, they do it because of oil. But let's not get political here. On a more scientific approach, we can define oil as a viscous substance (meaning it is resistance to water) that has both lipophilic features (“loves fats” or is attracted to other oils) and hydrophobic (“water fearing'' or resists water).

You can also separate oil into two different types. One being mineral oils while the other organic oils. Gasoline and kerosene fall under the category of mineral oil while olive oil, fish oil and fats are organic oils.

Based on this definition, many substances that we encounter everyday and also many of those that we don't would fall under this umbrella term. The hair oil you used to make your hair shiny this morning and the petroleum jelly you rubbed on your hands to moisturize it are oil-based products. The olive oil you used to make pasta for lunch and the unleaded petroleum oil you filled you car gas tank with are also oil substances. The oil paint used on the painting in your living room and the electrical insulator of your office all have oil within them.

Clearly, oil has many different uses which we can benefit from. Oil can be used as a lube or lubricant such as when the Tin Man oils his joints to keep them from rusting. Oil can also be used as food since it is used in cooking, frying and baking. You can also transfer heat using oil like those oils in stoves and insulators. And you can even make other things using oil, such as acrylic acids, oil paint and plastics to name a few. And of course, oil can also be used as fuel.