When you splash oil (any type) inside water, it floats atop and the water stays beneath. Does that make water heavier than oil?
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When you splash oil (any type) inside water, it floats atop and the water stays beneath. Does that make water heavier than oil?
Most oils are lighter than water. This includes petroleum-based oils – kerosene, gasoline – and vegetable oils- groundnut oil, coconut oil etc. Oil floats on water because its density is less than that of water. There are some oils that are heavier than water. These will sink to the bottom. Generally, these organic compounds contain at least one heavy element such as Chlorine or Bromine. Examples are dibromomethane, chloroform or tetrachloroethylene. These liquids are not called “oils” these days, but the general description of an oil is an organic liquid applies to these as well.
Whatever is heavier than water, sinks in water, and whatever is lighter, floats on it. So your observation proves that oil is not, in fact, heavier than water but lighter. In the past, when it was still possible to get carbon tetrachloride, it was a common classroom demonstration to show water floating on top of the carbon tetrachloride and oil floating on top of the water.