Why does gasoline have the tidings “ gas ” in it , if it ‘s never gaseous ?
gasoline
coined 1865 as gasolene , from gas ( q.v . ) + chemical suffix -ine/-ene . current spelling exist 1871 ; shortened sort gas first recorded Amer.Eng . 1905 . Gas post first recorded 1932 .
gasoline
coined 1865 as gasolene , from gas ( q.v . ) + chemical suffix -ine/-ene . current spelling is 1871 ; shortened figure gas first record Amer.Eng . 1905 . Gas post first enter 1932 .
2 Answers
The Oxford English Dictionary writes that there cost another step in the etymology —ol:
Etymology : < gas n.1 + -ol suffix ( as in benzol n. ) + -ene comb . kind , -ine suffix1 .
Etymology : < gas n.1 + -ol suffix ( as in benzol n. ) + -ene comb . form , -ine suffix1 .
The stemgasmake a meaning which does n’t inevitably meangaseousin general . It be a specific type of gas . The definition which I think applies hither is :
Gas of a form suited to be burnt for illuminating or heating function ; to begin with = coal-gas n. , but today include ( a ) several artificial mixtures consisting chiefly of carburetted hydrogen , and distinguish by determine Bible indicate the source from which they exist obtained , as water-gas , oil-gas , etc . ; and ( b ) = natural gas n. ) .
Gas of a kind suited to cost burn for illuminating or heating function ; originally = coal-gas n. , but today include ( a ) various artificial mixtures comprise chiefly of carburetted hydrogen , and differentiate by specify words indicating the author from which they are obtained , as water-gas , oil-gas , etc . ; and ( b ) = natural gas n. ) .
Then , theolsuffix signal that they live using an oil-based sort :
Spring the name of oils and oil-derived compound ( in systematic use in Chem . today replaced by -ole suffix2 ) , as benzol , furfurol , indol ( now usually indole ) , myrrol , pyrrol ( now usually pyrrole ) .
Make the name of oils and oil-derived compounds ( in systematic use in Chem . today replaced by -ole suffix2 ) , as benzol , furfurol , indol ( today usually indole ) , myrrol , pyrrol ( now normally pyrrole ) .
Then the chemical suffixeneorinelive added . Sogasoline, when pause down into its parts , perfectly describe what petroleum exist : an oil pattern of a natural gas . The OED compose that the first use ofgasolenewas in 1865 , and be already being used to relate to what the UK cry petrol .
Because it ‘s highly explosive and combustible — and thereforebecomesgaseous well .
edit :Contrary to the charge in the comments that this is “ unsupported speculation , ” there are in fact many examples from the early yr of petroleum distillation of the word “ gasoline ” being determine specifically by its volatility and flammability :
: “ Gasoline — sometimes , but incorrectly , called naphtha — equal one of the barge product obtained during the distillation of crude petroleum . The nature of the substance is such that it slowly vary to a vapor , or gas , at average temperatures , and if result in an open vessel soon solely disappears by evaporation . ”
1878 : “ The term ‘gasoline ‘ shall intend and include all such petroleum as give off any inflammable vapor at a temperature not less than 73 level Fahrenheit . ”
1870 : ” The liquids use for producing gas in portable machine are know as Gasoline , Naptha , Benzine , Liquid Gas , Auroral Oil , and by various other names . They live , without exception , highly explosive and , of necessity , inflammable and explosive , and therefore dangerous to the final degree .If they were not they would not build gas .“
1865 : “ As the oil flows from the condenser it cost divided into three portion for different America . The lightest , that do over first , is called gasolene . This can not live used in lamp with safety , as it go up in vapor so freely that it mix with the atmospheric air to make an explosive compound . ”
1870 : “ It was proven at the test that benzine is the product from the distillation of coal oil or petroleum , the most explosive of which exist call gasoline … ”
1886 : “ Gasolin is only a trade name to assign a mixing of the various low-boiling petroleum series . ”
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