👉 Crude oil, often referred to as "crude," is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons—primarily alkanes, cycloalkanes, and aromatic hydrocarbons—extracted from underground reservoirs. It's typically found in large quantities and requires refining to produce more valuable products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Crude oil's composition can vary widely depending on its source, ranging from light and volatile to heavy and dense. The term "crude" emphasizes that it is raw and unprocessed, containing impurities such as sulfur, nitrogen, and metals, which must be removed during refining to make it suitable for various industrial and consumer uses.
