Definition

Noun: A chemical substance or compound that is derived from petroleum or natural gas. Petrochemicals are the basic raw materials used to manufacture a vast array of industrial and consumer products.

Usage

The term "petrochemical" is used to refer to any of the numerous chemical products made from the hydrocarbon components of petroleum and natural gas. These are distinct from fuels (like gasoline) and are primarily used as feedstocks for the chemical industry.

Examples

• Ethylene and propylene are key petrochemicals used to make plastics.
• The plant specializes in converting crude oil into various petrochemicals.
• Modern life depends on products derived from petrochemicals, such as synthetic fibers, fertilizers, and pharmaceuticals.

Advanced Usage

• "Petrochemical industry": The sector of the manufacturing industry concerned with the production of petrochemicals. This is a compound term listed separately here as it is a common collocation.
  • The country's economy is heavily invested in the petrochemical industry.

Variants and Related Words

• Petrochemistry (noun): The branch of chemistry concerned with the composition and formation of rocks (specifically petroleum), or the chemical processes involved in the petrochemical industry.
• Petrochemical (adjective): Of or relating to petrochemicals. (e.g., , ).

Synonyms

• Hydrocarbon derivative
• Oil-derived chemical

Different Meanings

The word "petrochemical" has a single, specific meaning related to chemicals derived from petroleum or natural gas. It does not have other unrelated definitions.

Noun

1. any compound obtained from petroleum or natural gas