What is gasoline?
Gasoline is a pale brown or pink liquid made from processed crude oil. It evaporates easily, is very flammable and can form explosive mixtures in air. Gasoline is a mixture of many different hydrogen- and carbon- containing chemicals (hydrocarbons). A typical gasoline mixture contains about 150 different hydrocarbons, including butane, pentane, isopentane and the BTEX compounds (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes). Gasoline also contains chemicals such as lubricants, anti-rust agents and anti-icing agents that are added to improve car performance. These compounds are usually only present in very small amounts. Before the 1980s, lead was commonly used in gasoline as an anti-knocking agent. The use of lead has been phased out due to air pollution and health concerns. Some gasolines also contain ethanol, which is made from corn. Ethanol helps a car run more efficiently and it produces less pollution. HOW DOES GASOLINE GET INTO THE ENVIRONMENT? Spills, leaks or improper disposal o
