Most people have heard of kerosene, and many have used it at one time or another as a heating oil or a fuel source for light. But how much do you really know about this popular fuel? Here are a few things you probably didn’t know about kerosene.

Surprising Facts About Kerosene

1. Name Origin

The word kerosene comes from the Greek word keros, which means wax. During the process of distilling this fuel from petroleum, a waxy substance is produced, so the resulting flammable liquid became known as kerosene. In industrial and scientific usage, it is sometimes spelled kerosine.

2. Long History

Although this fuel started being distributed for residential and industrial use in the mid-1800s, it actually dates back much farther. Persian scholar Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi was the first person to record the process of distilling kerosene from petroleum, sometime in the 9th century.

3. Cleansing Properties

This fuel is surprisingly useful for certain types of cleaning. It’s ideal for removing candle wax and sticker residue from glass surfaces. Also, it’s often used to clean old lubricant off of bicycle and motorcycle chains. Some artists who work in oil paint use this fuel to clean their brushes.

4. Entertainment Value

If you’ve ever seen a performance where people juggle, eat, or breathe fire, they may have been using kerosene. It’s a popular fuel for these types of acts for a couple of reasons. First, it burns slowly, so it keeps the fire going for a long time. Second, it won’t evaporate, so props can be fueled before the show and grabbed quickly when needed later.

5. Space Exploration

A highly refined form of kerosene called RP-1 is often burned with liquid oxygen as a rocket fuel. The Saturn V launch vehicle—which was used by NASA to send the manned Apollo missions to the moon and to launch the first U.S. space station—was fueled by this powerful combination.
 

Monroe Oil Company in Rochester, NY, has been providing reliable residential and commercial fuel delivery services since 1910. Serving Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne counties, they offer kerosene, diesel fuel, and heating oil delivery services at affordable prices. Call (585) 244-4080 today to ask about same-day delivery, or visit their website to learn more about their services.