2007-02-08 10:06:18 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
depends on the oil. some are some arnt
2007-02-08 10:09:02 · answer #1 · answered by SwordDancer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not exactly. The meaning is correct. But word use is unusual.
Oil has lower density than water. And oil doesn't mix with water. So oil rises in water. But we don't usually use the word "buoyant" for a solution (mixture of two liquids).
2007-02-08 18:11:20 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. Lee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most oils are. A few very heavy oils are slightly more dense than water, and would sink.
The oil density is in practice fairly closely related to the average number of carbon atoms per oil molecule. 6 is about the lightest possible, 8 is still light (but gives us the word "octane" for fuel rating), and heavy crudes are up towards 20.
"Most geologists agree that crude becomes "heavy" as a result of biodegradation, in which lighter ends are preferentially consumed by bacteria in the reservoir, leaving heavier hydrocarbons behind."
2007-02-09 14:34:24 · answer #3 · answered by bh8153 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would depend on the kind of oil you are talking about. But the vast majority of oils are less dense than water and consequently float on water (because oils are non-polar they will not mix with the water).
2007-02-08 18:10:39 · answer #4 · answered by brooks b 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, with some sulfur and other elements added. Water is composed of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. Since carbon is liss dense than oxygen, and hydrocarbons contain many more hydrogens than does water, hydrocarbons (oil) floats in water.
2007-02-08 18:46:44 · answer #5 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oil is LIGHTER than water, my dear.
The specific gravity of liquids or solids is defined as the ratio of density of the material to the density of distilled water. (S = density of the material/density of water). This implies that if the specific gravity is approximately equal to 1.000, then the density of the material is close to the density of water. If the specific gravity is large this means that the density of the material is much larger than the density of water and if the specific gravity is small this implies that the density of the material is much smaller than the density of water.
So if a liquids specific gravity is less than 1 it will float on top of water and if it's higher than 1 it will sink because it's heavier!
Water Specific gravity = 1
Oil, petroleum Specific gravity = 0.88 FLOATS!
Aluminum Specific gravity = 2.64 SINKS!
2007-02-08 18:21:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah oil rises to the top of water.
2007-02-08 18:09:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it floats on water because it is less dense than water.
2007-02-08 18:09:30 · answer #8 · answered by jenofur 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2007-02-08 18:09:17 · answer #9 · answered by John S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah
2007-02-08 18:08:37 · answer #10 · answered by Sam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋