PETRO-CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
Petrochemicals are chemicals made from petroleum (crude oil) and natural gas. Petroleum and natural gas are made up of hydrocarbon molecules, which are comprised of one or more carbon atoms, to which hydrogen atoms are attached.
Currently, oil and gas are the main sources of the raw materials because they are the least expensive, most readily available.
Only about five percent of the oil and gas consumed each year is needed to make all the petrochemical products.
Petrochemicals have had a dramatic impact on our food, clothing, shelter and leisure. Some synthetics, tailored for particular uses, actually perform better than products made by nature because of their unique properties.