Degrees API is a measure of what property of fuel oil?

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Degrees API, or American Petroleum Institute gravity, is a measure of the specific gravity of petroleum liquids, particularly crude oil. It is used to indicate how heavy or light a petroleum liquid is compared to water. The scale is inversely related to specific gravity, meaning that as the API gravity increases, the specific gravity decreases. This relationship is crucial because it helps in determining the quality and market value of the crude oil; lighter oils (with higher API gravity) are generally more valuable than heavier oils.

In practice, the API gravity is calculated using a specific formula that converts the specific gravity of the oil into degrees API. This makes API gravity a standard measurement in the oil and gas industry, enabling comparisons between different types of petroleum products.

Viscosity, flash point, and density, while important properties of fuel oil, do not relate directly to the API gravity measurement. Viscosity refers to a fluid's resistance to flow, flash point indicates the temperature at which vapors may ignite, and density is a measure of mass per unit volume. However, API specifically focuses on the relative density of liquids compared to water, making specific gravity the correct interpretation of Degrees API.

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