API gravity measures which property of petroleum liquids?

API gravity measures which property of petroleum liquids?

• A. The density of petroleum liquids
• B. The color of petroleum liquids
• C. The viscosity of petroleum liquids
• D. The reactivity of petroleum liquids

Answer: (A)

API gravity is a way to express how dense a petroleum liquid is relative to water. It converts density into a single number, so you can tell if oil is light or heavy. The higher the API number, the lighter the liquid (less dense than water); a lower number means a heavier, denser liquid. This relationship comes from the formula API gravity = (141.5 / SG at 60°F) − 131.5, where SG is the liquid’s specific gravity relative to water. Because it’s about density, API gravity tells you about heaviness or lightness, not color, viscosity, or chemical reactivity. For example, a liquid with API around 35 is lighter than water, while an API around 10–12 corresponds to a much heavier oil.

API gravity is a way to express how dense a petroleum liquid is relative to water. It converts density into a single number, so you can tell if oil is light or heavy. The higher the API number, the lighter the liquid (less dense than water); a lower number means a heavier, denser liquid. This relationship comes from the formula API gravity = (141.5 / SG at 60°F) − 131.5, where SG is the liquid’s specific gravity relative to water. Because it’s about density, API gravity tells you about heaviness or lightness, not color, viscosity, or chemical reactivity. For example, a liquid with API around 35 is lighter than water, while an API around 10–12 corresponds to a much heavier oil.