Tag: Fat vs oil

Petroleum, or crude oil, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons formed over millions of years, yet a common misconception connects it directly to animal fats. So, does oil come from fat? The simple answer is no, not in the way you might think. While both are organic compounds, their origins and formation processes are vastly different, involving distinct precursors and immense geological time scales.

Although fats and oils are both triglycerides and energy sources for the body, they have a key difference that is easy to observe: their physical state at room temperature. This observable characteristic is directly linked to their unique chemical structures, specifically the saturation of their fatty acid chains.