What is oil?

 

 

Oil is one of the world’s most important resources. We use oil for energy. We use oil to power cars, trucks, planes, trains and ships. Oil is also used as a raw material to make many things. Every day, we use things that are made from oil.

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil is thick and sticky. It is made into fuel.

Oil is found underground. When it comes straight from the ground, we call it crude oil. There are several different types of crude oil. They vary in colour, smell and thickness. Heavy crude oil is dark brown or black. It is very sticky like tar. Light crude oil can be clear in colour and is very runny.

 

 

 

Crude oil is used to make all these things.

 

 

 

Plastics

Oil is made into many different kinds of plastic. Foamy plastics, with bubbles of air blown into them, are used to fill furniture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disposable nappies

One cup of crude oil is used to make the plastic for a disposable nappy.

 

 

 

Cosmetics

Crude oil makes people look beautiful. Many cosmetics are made from oil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paint

Paint can also be made from oil.

 

 

 

 

 

Cloth

Many strong, long lasting, synthetic materials, such as nylon, are made from oil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bitumen

The black sticky substance called bitumen, which sticks the stones together on our roads, is made from oil.

 

 

 

 

Detergents

The detergents we use to wash clothes are made from oil.