Question

The word petroleum has been derived from two words ‘petra’ and ‘oleum’ which means ______________.
A. mineral and water
B. mineral and oil
C. rock and oil
D. soil and oil

Answer 1

Hint: Petroleum is a fossil fuel and is derived from two Latin words. It is the second important source of energy in India after coal.

Complete Answer: The term Petroleum has been derived from two Latin words ‘petra’ and oleum’. The Latin word petra means ‘rock’ and the Latin word oleum means ‘oil’. Literally, petroleum is rock oil and is the second important source of energy in India after coal. It provides fuel for lightning and heat, lubricants for machines and raw materials for other industries. Oil refineries act as a nodal industry for synthetic textiles, fertilizers and other chemical industries.

Now let us examine the options
Option A - Petroleum is neither a mineral nor water. It is crude oil, but it can contain minerals such as sand which often contain Quartz, which is a mineral.
Option B - It is often confused that petroleum is mineral oil, but this idea is wrong. The literal meaning of petroleum is rock oil. It is crude oil and crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons, which is not a mineral.
Option C - The term petroleum has been derived from two Latin terms ‘petra’ and ‘oleum’ which literally means rock and oil.
Option D - Petroleum is not soil but it is a rock. It is often referred to as rock oil.

Thus, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: About 63 percent of India’s petroleum production comes from Mumbai High, 18 percent from Gujarat and 16 percent from Assam. Ankleshwar is the most important oil field of Gujarat while Assam is the oldest oil-producing state of India. Important oil fields are Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran-Hugri in Assam.