Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros (κηρός wax). The word Kerosene was registered as a trademark by Abraham Gesner in 1854 and for several years only the North American Gas Light Company and the Downer Company (to which Gesner had granted the right) were allowed to call their lamp oil kerosene. It eventually became genericized.
It is usually called paraffin (sometimes paraffin oil) in the UK and South Africa (not to be confused with the waxy solid also called paraffin wax or just paraffin, or the much more viscous paraffin oil used as a laxative); the term kerosene is usual in much of Canada, the United States, Australia (where it is usually referred to colloquially as kero) and New Zealand.
Kerosene is widely used to power jet-engined aircraft (Jet fuel) and some rockets, but is also commonly used as a heating fuel and for fire toys such as poi.
The heat of combustion of Kerosene is similar to that of diesel: its Lower Heating Value is around 18,500 Btu/lb, or 43.1 MJ/kg, and its Higher Heating Value is 46.2MJ/kg.
At one time the fuel was widely used in kerosene lamps and lanterns. While replacing whale oil, it was considered as “explosive as gunpowder.” - the 1873 edition of Elements of Chemistry notes that “The vapor of this substance [kerosene] mixed with air is as explosive as gunpowder.” This may have been due to the common practice of adulterating kerosene with other, more volatile hydrocarbons, such as the cheaper benzene. Kerosene was also a fire risk; in 1880, 39% of New York City fires were caused by defective kerosene lamps. These were superseded by the electric light bulb and flashlights powered by dry cell batteries.
Its use as a cooking fuel is mostly restricted to some portable stoves for backpackers and to less developed countries, where it is usually less refined and contains impurities and even debris.
