3 ms·

I've seen no mention of the myriad other uses we make from petroleum other than transport uses. There's 144 (out of 6000) listed here. https://www.ranken-energy

I've seen no mention of the myriad other uses we make from petroleum other than transport uses. There's 144 (out of 6000) listed here. https://www.ranken-energy.com/index.php/products-made-from-petroleum/ https://www.ranken-energy.com/index.php/products-made-from-p... It would be a pretty bleak society without many of these never mind all of the various medicinal stuff such as antiseptics, antihistamines, vitamin capsules, cortisone, glycerin, asparin

rebuilder 6y ago
Not to downplay the importance of petroleum, but surely a lot of those things can be made without it as well. Aspirin for example?
ajross 6y ago
Basic hydrocarbons can be pretty easily synthesized, though. Refining them out of oil is cheaper, but not so much cheaper that we'd have to forego this stuff.
tastyfreeze 6y ago
Without ability to synthesize medications society would need to go back to herbal medicines. Too bad 90% of society knows jack squat about the natural sources of commonly used medications.
- bluGill 6y ago
  It wouldn't matter much if we did. Many are only available in some areas. Often they are in such impure forms that you can't actually use them even if you know it is there. And concentration is varied enough that you can't do precision treatment.