oil (organic material)
- Scope note
- Any greasy substance that is liquid at room temperature and insoluble in water. Fixed (nonvolatile) oils have the same chemical composition as fats: they consist chiefly of glycerides, resulting from a reaction between glycerol and fatty acids. Oils may be divided by function and type: mineral (e.g., paraffin), vegetable (e.g., linseed), animal (e.g., fish), essential (e.g., turpentine), or edible (e.g., olive).
- Date of creation: 18-Nov-2024
Accepted term: 18-Nov-2024