petrol
Mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum, mainly used as a fuel for internal-combustion engines. It is colourless and highly volatile. Leaded petrol contains antiknock (a mixture of tetra ethyl lead and dibromoethane), which improves the combustion of petrol and the performance of a car engine. The lead from the exhaust fumes enters the atmosphere, mostly as simple lead compounds. There is strong evidence that it can act as a nerve poison on young children and cause mental impairment. This prompted a gradual switch to the use of unleaded petrol in the UK.
The changeover from leaded petrol gained momentum from 1989 owing to a change in the tax on petrol, making it cheaper to buy unleaded fuel. Unleaded petrol contains a different mixture of hydrocarbons from leaded petrol. Leaded petrol cannot be used in cars fitted with a catalytic converter.
In the USA, petrol is called gasoline, and unleaded petrol has been used for many years.
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|
?Sign in  |
|---|