List of Chemicals Found in Gasoline – Substances – Uses

There are major chemicals found in gasoline. This complex mixture does not exist naturally in the environment. It forms of chemicals that present in several physical states (gaseous, liquid, or others). Gasoline goes through refining process from petroleum. The gasoline discussed in this profile is gasoline as a fuel for engines in automobiles and other vehicles.

We should be a concern of chemicals emitted from fuels. Gasoline burn when the vehicle started, and it takes out chemicals substance. Moreover, It actually contains dangerous chemicals that can impact human health as well as the environments. Due to its hazardous, that is Why Should An Individual Working with Chemicals Understand The Hazard

Chemicals found in gasoline

Gasoline contains more than 150 chemicals including benzene, toluene, xylene, and sometimes lead. It is colorless with pale brown, or pink liquid. Gasoline is extremely flammable and catches on fire quite easily that is why chemicals should be stored away from food and any other items.  Here are some of the Chemicals found in gasoline and its influence on human health and environment.

1. Benzene

An important organic chemical compound which contains carbon and hydrogen atoms. It is sometimes abbreviated into PhH. Benzene has no color and very flammable liquid with a sweet smell. Moreover, it gives aroma around petrol (gas) stations.

There is only less than 1% benzene in gasoline because it is a toxic chemical. It has a major impact on human health. Its particles proved to causes cancer to humans. Therefore, other non-industrial applications also limited this chemical usage for the same reason. In addition, some countries even ban this chemical in their country.

2. Tolune

Toluene or Toluol is another colorless chemical part in gasoline. It is a substance that prevents gasoline to dissolve in waters. There is various use for toluene in real life. It is dangerous when to inhale and has the potential of causing severe neurological harm. Inhaling in high dose in a short time may cause light-headedness, nausea, unconsciousness, and even death.

3. Ethanol

There is a slight compound if ethanol found in gasoline. It is a simple alcohol that linked to a hydroxyl group. Ethanol is a flammable chemical. Therefore, gasoline should handle with extra care due to much explosive chemicals substance in it.  It is colorless liquid with a slight significant odor. It comes from a natural process of sugar fermentation of sugars or petrochemical processes. As chemicals in gasoline, ethanol is also used as a clean-burning fuel source.

4. Methanol

Methanol or methyl alcohol is the basic form of alcohol, that consists of a methyl group linked to a hydroxyl group. It is a very light chemical with no color but very flammable.  Methanol is however far more toxic compared to ethanol. Methanol can cause permanent blindness by damaging the optic nerve. In a large dose, it can cause hypoxia at the cellular level, and metabolic acidosis disturbances. 

5. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

People more familiar with this chemical by the name dibutylhydroxytoluene. It has antioxidants properties that prevent oxidation in gasoline. In the petroleum industry, where BHT is an important chemical for hydraulic fluids, turbine and gear oils, and jet fuels. Another use of this chemical is for food additive, household product ingredient, industrial additive, a pesticides ingredient, plastic ingredient, and medical research.

6. 1,2-Dibromoethane

It has a natural compound made from algae and kelp. This chemical has no color with sweet odor. Itcome in liquid form serves as anti-knock additives for gasoline. It reacts with lead residues to generate lead bromides and prevents fouling of the engine with lead deposits.

It affects badly to human health from inhaling from dizziness, nausea to some symptoms that can lead to cancer. In long-term exposure, it can cause death. This pesticides component also affects aminals. It causes depression and birth defects.

7. Isopropyl alcohol

Most chemicals found in gasoline is colorless and very flammable chemical compound with a strong smell, including this chemical. It an industrial substance and a common ingredient for antiseptics, disinfectants, and detergents. As a major ingredient for gasoline to remove brake fluid from braking systems.

Isopropyl alcohol can have a toxic effect on a human that cause poisoning. It happens from ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. Some of the signs are a headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, respiratory depression, and coma. 

8. Nitromethane

An organic compound with formula CH₃NO. It is a polar liquid for industrial applications such as in extractions, as a reaction medium, and as a cleaning material. Nitromethane is a chemical found in gasoline to produce internal combustion engines also in radio control, control line and free flight model aircraft. Nitromethane has a lower specific energy which indicates that nitromethane generates about 2.3 times the power of gasoline when combined with oxygen.

Exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine includes nitromethane will contain nitric acid vapor, when inhaled can cause a muscular reaction. Moreover, it makes it impossible to breathe.

9. Ferrocene

It is are antiknock agents for gasoline. It can enable its use in vintage cars designed to run on leaded gasoline. Moreover, ferrocene also effective at reducing smoke and sulfur trioxide after gasoline burned. 

10. Diisopropyl ether

Diisopropyl ether comes in a liquid colorless form which is slightly soluble in water, however miscible with organic solvents. It is among many chemicals found in gasoline. It acts as an extractant and an oxygenate for gasoline. Diisopropyl ether can form explosive peroxides if left standing in air for long periods. This dangerous reaction proceeds more easily than for ethyl ether. Therefore, it needs a careful storage and handles.

11. Ethylenediamine

This chemical is liquid with colorless and ammonia-like odor. It is a strongly basic amine for a building block in chemical synthesis. Moreover, ethylenediamine reacts with moisture in the humid air to produce a corrosive, toxic and irritation. Therefore, this hazardous substances can cause serious damage with just short time exposures. That’s all about the list of chemicals found in gasoline.

There are many more small substances in gasoline that in small dose doesn’t have a serious reaction to the human health. However, due to its hazardous, keep in mind to handle gasoline with care.