Why is gas gas?

[sbk1234]

We all know there are basically 3 states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Gas refers to such elements as oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, and so on. Well, that's fine and dandy. However, then we come to a liquid fuel that is put in our "gas tanks": Gasoline. This is usually shortened to "gas." This gets to be confusing for the kids in my class who are learning about the three states of matter.
Why is gasoline called gasoline? This gets to be confusing for some. It could be much simpler if they had just called it something like 'Liqualine," or something.
So, why is it called gasoline? Where did this come from? Did the folks who came up with this know they'd be causing turmoil for future generations?

 

[SmoothieX]

We all know there are basically 3 states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Gas refers to such elements as oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, and so on. Well, that's fine and dandy.

You may want to each them that CO2 and CH4 are not in fact elements!

 

[Dart]

I call it petrol. Maybe you should too.

 

[Rii]

Most folks here call it "petrol". Sounds like we dodged a bullet there.

 

[RoJoHen]

"Gasoline" is mostly a North American term. Where it came from, I don't know.

 

[Lindley]

The only hint Wikipedia offers is that the term may have been derived from Vaseline, another petroleum product.

 

[PlixTixiplik]

From what I've read online, gasoline was a originally an 1800's brand name for that type of petroleum distillate (similar to the trademark Vaseline). At the time it was used as a topical treatment for head lice, but became used as auto fuel when cars became more widespread. The brand name was never registered as a trademark and the word has entered common usage.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I call it petrol. Maybe you should too.

Most folks here call it "petrol". Sounds like we dodged a bullet there.

Except when it's diesel or LPG.

 

[Rii]

From what I've read online, gasoline was a originally an 1800's brand name for that type of petroleum distillate (similar to the trademark Vaseline). At the time it was used as a topical treatment for head lice, but became used as auto fuel when cars became more widespread. The brand name was never registered as a trademark and the word has entered common usage.

Genericised trademarks are always fun. My favourite is 'Cocaine'.

 

[Dart]

I call it petrol. Maybe you should too.

Most folks here call it "petrol". Sounds like we dodged a bullet there.

Except when it's diesel or LPG.

Huh? I dont get it.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I call it petrol. Maybe you should too.

Most folks here call it "petrol". Sounds like we dodged a bullet there.

Except when it's diesel or LPG.

Huh? I dont get it.

Our filling stations offer petrol (almost always unleaded now), diesel, and sometimes LPG.

 

[sbk1234]

We all know there are basically 3 states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Gas refers to such elements as oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, and so on. Well, that's fine and dandy.

You may want to each them that CO2 and CH4 are not in fact elements!

You are right about that. However, I used the word "elements" so I could avoid using a word like "stuff" or "things."
When we go through the elements, they do learn the elements as represented on the periodic table.

Or sung by Tom Lehrer.

 

[SmoothieX]

Stuff is such a good catch-all descriptor though.

The only hint Wikipedia offers is that the term may have been derived from Vaseline, another petroleum product.

Yes, but you can't use gasoline to uh...notify the mod.

 

[John Picard]

We all know there are basically 3 states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

There are four states: Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. An example of plasma is a florescent light.

So, why is it called gasoline? Where did this come from? Did the folks who came up with this know they'd be causing turmoil for future generations?

Yeah, they all sat around thinking, "What can we name this so that, down the road, our progeny will all be confused?"

I call it petrol. Maybe you should too.

Most folks here call it "petrol". Sounds like we dodged a bullet there.

Except when it's diesel or LPG.

Huh? I dont get it.

LPG is short for "Liquefied Petroleum Gas".

 

[Lindley]

There are four states: Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. An example of plasma is a florescent light.

I've sometimes heard collapsed matter (eg, neutron stars) referred to as a fifth state.

 

[John Picard]

There are four states: Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. An example of plasma is a florescent light.

I've sometimes heard collapsed matter (eg, neutron stars) referred to as a fifth state.

Does that enable travel across the 8th Dimension?

 

[Lindley]

Actually, I just checked wikipedia, and apparently there are a *lot* more states of matter....but most of them don't exist outside of laboratory conditions.

 

[Chaos Descending]

Bose-Einstein Condensates are another state of matter.

 

[scotpens]

From what I've read online, gasoline was a originally an 1800's brand name for that type of petroleum distillate (similar to the trademark Vaseline). At the time it was used as a topical treatment for head lice, but became used as auto fuel when cars became more widespread. The brand name was never registered as a trademark and the word has entered common usage.

Off-topic but on a somewhat related note, when automobiles were a new invention, nobody knew exactly what to call them. In the early years of the 20th century, they were called "horseless carriages," "gas buggies," "automobiles," "autocars," "motorcars," "motocars" and "motocycles." (The last two are spelled correctly -- moto as in Mr. Moto.)

 

[Rii]

Off-topic but on a somewhat related note, when automobiles were a new invention, nobody knew exactly what to call them. In the early years of the 20th century, they were called "horseless carriages," "gas buggies," "automobiles," "autocars," "motorcars," "motocars" and "motocycles." (The last two are spelled correctly -- moto as in Mr. Moto.)

"I propose we travel by horseless sleigh" is one of my favourite Mr. Burns lines.