Kerosene

Formula: N/A | CAS: 8008-20-6

Detecting kerosene: Or isopropyl alcohol, is a clear, colourless liquid that emits an odour that resembles acetone. It is a commercially available product mainly is found as a 70% solution in rubbing alcohol and hand sanitisers.

Detecting kerosene on a day to day basis

The main use of kerosene is as a base for aviation fuel but it also has application as a solvent in paints, cleaners, pesticides and some eye medicines. It was previously a common fuel for stoves, heaters and lamps and is still used today as a fuel for home (‘oil’) central heating systems.

Like most chemicals, the amount of kerosene you are exposed to must be above a certain
level to cause adverse health effects. Breathing large quantities of kerosene vapour or
drinking kerosene-based liquids may cause non-specific signs such as dizziness, headache
and vomiting. Repeated skin exposure may result in dermatitis (eczema). A short, one-off
exposure to kerosene is unlikely to result in any long-term effects. However, a severe form
of lung injury called pneumonitis (pronounced ‘new-mown-eye-tus’) may occur if liquid
kerosene is inhaled directly into the lungs, for example, whilst manually siphoning a tank or
from inhaling vomit after swallowing kerosene.
– Health Protection Agency

How is kerosene produced?

Kerosene’s colour tends to be light, clear and free from solid matter. It’s typically pale, yellow or colourless but often has a dye added to distinguish it from other fuels such as red diesel.

Kerosene has a thin viscosity and a density between 0.78-0.81 g/cm³ (gram per cubic centimetre). Its actual density is 0.82 g/cm³, however as paraffin’s is 0.8g/cm³ and the two oils are virtually the same, a happy medium is found at 0.81g/cm³.

Chemically, kerosene is made up of a mixture of hydrocarbons. Its composition varies depending on its source, but typically contains around 10 different hydrocarbons, each containing 10-16 carbon atoms per molecule.