Question

Petroleum ether can be used as
A. Solvent for fat, oil, varnish and rubber
B. as a fuel
C. Both (A) and (B)
D. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Petroleum ether is a fraction of petroleum obtained at the time of fractional distillation of petroleum. Petroleum ether contains aliphatic hydrocarbons and has a boiling point in the range of 35 - 60 $^{o}C$.

Complete step-by-step answer:
- In the question it is asked to find the uses of petroleum ether among the given options.
- Petroleum ether boiling point is very less so we have to handle it very carefully.
- The other name of petroleum ether is benzine.
- Petroleum ether belongs to the pentane family.
- We know that like dissolves in like means, organic compounds are soluble in organic and polar compounds are soluble in polar solvents.
- Therefore the compounds like fat, oil, varnish and rubber are soluble in water.
- So, petroleum ether is going to act as solvent and will allow fat, oil, varnish and rubber to soluble in it.
- Due to the less boiling point after removing the above mentioned chemicals petroleum ether can be removed or dried from clothes very easily.
- The chemicals like fat, oil, varnish and rubber are not soluble in water because they are organic chemicals in nature.

So, the correct option is A.

Note: Petroleum ether is relatively low cost when compared to remaining solvents and light in weight that is behind the high usage of petroleum ether in the field of research. In petroleum ether there is no formation of peroxides by the other unstable chemicals and it is toxic when inhaled.