What is one of the products derived from crude oil fractions besides fuels?

Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons that can be separated into various components through a process called fractional distillation. Apart from being a source of fuels like petrol and diesel, crude oil fractions can be converted into a variety of useful products through chemical processes.

Detergents are one of the products derived from these fractions. They are typically made from surfactants that can be synthesized from components obtained from crude oil. Surfactants lower the surface tension of water, allowing it to mix better with oils and dirt, making detergents effective for cleaning purposes. The chemicals produced from the hydrocarbon fractions in crude oil can be transformed into the complex molecules found in detergents through chemical reactions.

While pesticides, fertilizers, and paints are also important products in various industries, they are often derived from chemical processes involving different raw materials, not exclusively from crude oil fractions. In contrast, detergents are directly linked to the refining and processing of crude oil, making them a prominent example of a non-fuel product derived from crude oil.