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Article: Industrial Chemistry, Organic
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- Chemistry: Foundations and Applications
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Industrial Chemistry, Organic
Industrial organic chemicals are those 100 or so organic compounds produced in the United States in quantities ranging from millions of pounds to billions of pounds per year. Most of them are derived from petroleum (oil) or natural gas. From organic compounds present in petroleum and natural gas are obtained an amazing variety of products that includes many kinds of plastics, synthetic fibers, elastomers, drugs, surface coatings, solvents, detergents, insecticides, herbicides, explosives, gasoline additives, and countless specialty chemicals.
Historically, most organic chemicals had been obtained as by-products from the coking of coal, e.g., from coal oil. ...