| Description | Kerosene is primarily derived from refined petroleum. Kerosene
was discovered in 1853 by Abraham Gesner, a British
physician, through an extraction process of inflammable liquid
from asphalt, a waxy petroleum mixture. Kerosene, therefore, is
often called coal or fuel oil because of its asphalt origins.
Kerosene was the first material to be chemically extracted on
a large commercial scale. |
| Chemical Properties | Kerosene is a white to pale yellow, mobile flammable, and
combustible liquid. Kerosene (hydrodesulfurized) is a complex
combination of hydrocarbons obtained from a petroleum
stock by treating with hydrogen to convert organic
sulfur to hydrogen sulfide, which is removed. Kerosene
generally consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers
predominantly in the range of C9 through C16 and boiling in
the range of approximately 150–290℃ （302–554°F). |
| Chemical Properties | yellow liquid |
| Uses | Usually used to store alkali metals and prevent air re-dissolution. |
| Uses | In kerosene lamps, flares, and stoves; as degreaser and cleaner; Deobase formerly used as a solvent in cosmetics and in fly spray. |
| Uses | Kerosene, originally used for lighting and heating, is also used
as a diesel fuel, as a component in blending aviation fuels, as
a solvent and carrier for a wide range of products (including
cleaning compositions and pesticides), and as a mold-release
agent in the ceramic and pottery industry. |
| Production Methods | Kerosene is produced by direct fractionation of the “middle
distillate fraction”. Individual kerosene composition
varies widely, but consists mainly of linear and branched
aliphatics, olefins, cycloparaffins, and aromatics in the
C10–C16 range. For indoor heating fuels it
is desirable to remove the olefins, aromatics, and sulfur
compounds, because they promote the evolution of
soot and sulfur oxides. For some purposes, highly refined or
“deodorized” kerosene is manufactured by treatment with
activated charcoal or by clay filtration and is generally
less toxic than untreated kerosene. |
| Definition | Straight Run, Kerosene (petroleum). A complex combination of hydrocarbons produced by the distillation of crude oil. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C9 through C16 and boiling in the range of approximately 180.degree.C to 300.degree.C (356.degree.F to 572.degree.F). |
| General Description | A clear colorless to light amber liquid with a petroleum odor. Flash point 100°F. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Vapors are heavier than air. |
| Air & Water Reactions | Highly flammable. Insoluble in water. |
| Reactivity Profile | Saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, contained in Kerosene, may be incompatible with strong oxidizing agents like nitric acid. Charring of the hydrocarbon may occur followed by ignition of unreacted hydrocarbon and other nearby combustibles. In other settings, aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons are mostly unreactive. They are not affected by aqueous solutions of acids, alkalis, most oxidizing agents, and most reducing agents. |
| Hazard | Moderate fire risk, explosive limits in air
0.7–5.0%. Toxic by inhalation. Questionable carcinogen. |
| Health Hazard | Vapor causes slight irritation of eyes and nose. Liquid irritates stomach; if taken into lungs, causes coughing, distress, and rapidly developing pulmonary edema. |
| Flammability and Explosibility | Flammable |
| Chemical Reactivity | Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reactions; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent. |
| Environmental Fate | Kerosene is composed of aliphatic hydrocarbons with
10–16 carbons per molecule and benzene and naphthalene
derivatives. Because kerosene is a complex mixture of various
hydrocarbon fractions, its transport and transformation in the
environment are dependent on the environment fate of the
individual hydrocarbons that comprise it. Kerosene can enter
the environment because of its uses – engine fuels, domestic
heating, pesticide, and solvent. Environmental releases of
kerosene predominantly results in portioning to air. The halflife
reaction is calculated to be 0.27–2.2 days. Photodegeneration
is rapid in the air phase. Kerosene is expected to
have low mobility and some immobility when released to soil.
Volatilization does occur. Kerosene is biodegradable in soil,
although some components of the mixture adhere strongly to
the soil. Kerosene is also biodegradable in surface water.
However, some components of the mixture may bioconcentrate
in fish and other aquatic organisms. Hydrolysis is
insignificant because kerosene lacks the functional groups that
hydrolyze under environmental conditions. |
| Purification Methods | Stir it with conc H2SO4 until a fresh portion of acid remains colourless, then wash with water, dry with solid KOH and distil it in a Claisen flask. For more complete drying, the kerosene can be refluxed with Na, and distilled from Na. |
| Toxicity evaluation | The specific mechanism of toxicity of kerosene has not been
completely determined. The primary risk from ingestion of
kerosene is aspiration during emesis, which may cause
pneumonitis. The biochemical mechanism of lung response
to large concentrations of aerosolized kerosene (resulting in
bronchoconstriction and asthma-like symptoms) may involve
the parasympathetic nervous system via a direct effect on the
vagus nerve or by inhibition of acety1cholinesterase. The
mechanism(s) of central nervous system (CNS) depression
from kerosene exposure has not been elucidated, but
undoubtedly includes disruption of the membranes of nerve
cells. |
