If oil is black why is gasoline clear?

Question

If oil is black why is gasoline clear?

Answer 1

Crude oil is a mixture of petroleum products, including tars and asphaltines.  

The tars are black.  Once they are separated out, the gasoline and kerosene are clear, the paraffins are white and the asphaltines remain black.

Answer 2

ITS REFINED TO A LIGHT THINNED FUEL, OR LITTLE THICKER FOR OIL BURNERS, LIKE OIL FURNACES, ETC.

Answer 3

Crude oil is a mixture of several different hydrocarbons and other things including salt water.  In the refining process, which is actually a series of several different processes, the crude oil is divided into the diffenent components.  The heavier components contain more carbon which is black.  These heavier products are often broken down more through thermal and catalytic cracking.  The lighter products are more valuable because contain more hydrogen and make better fuel.  Crude oil is used to produce all kinds of light gases such as propane and butane.  It is made into gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil, lube oils, wax, grease, asphalt and plastics.

Answer 4

It may be easier next time to google it.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/oil-ref...