'''Gasoline''' or '''gas''' is a [[fuel]] derived from [[petroleum]], which is in turn derived from ancient [[vegetable]] matter and [[dinosaur]]s, if you believe in that sort of thing. Gasoline is an aliphatic hydrocarbon, or the molecules are composed of nothing but hydrogen and carbon in long chains. The energy contained in a gallon of gasoline is approximately 132X10<sup>6</sup> joules of [[energy]], equivalent to 125,000 [[BTU]] or 36,650 [[watt-hours]]. <ref> US Department of Energy [http://cta.ornl.gov/data/appendix_b.shtml]</ref> This high energy density allows for much of the modern industry and comforts of the modern world through the [[transportation]] of goods and people. | '''Gasoline''' or '''gas''' is a [[fuel]] derived from [[petroleum]], which is in turn derived from ancient [[vegetable]] matter and [[dinosaur]]s, if you believe in that sort of thing. Gasoline is an aliphatic hydrocarbon, or the molecules are composed of nothing but hydrogen and carbon in long chains. The energy contained in a gallon of gasoline is approximately 132X10<sup>6</sup> joules of [[energy]], equivalent to 125,000 [[BTU]] or 36,650 [[watt-hours]]. <ref> US Department of Energy [http://cta.ornl.gov/data/appendix_b.shtml]</ref> This high energy density allows for much of the modern industry and comforts of the modern world through the [[transportation]] of goods and people. |