From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!CAD:tektronix!tekmdp!rogers Newsgroups: net.cycle Title: Re: leaded vs unleaded gasoline - (nf) Article-I.D.: tekmdp.1768 Posted: Thu Feb 10 11:05:45 1983 Received: Sun Feb 13 06:37:51 1983 Here at last should be an end of lead - no lead debate. When gasoline is made, it either has tetra-ethyl lead added or not added. Ethyl is a term for (quoting Webster's): 'univalent hydrocarbon radical C H ' 2 5 The term 'tetra-ethyl' means (quoting Webster's): 'containing four ethyl groups in the molecule' Also when they make premium, the amount of octane vs heptane determines if the mixture is to be called premium or not. octane is (again with Webster's): 'any of several isometric liquid paraffin hydrocarbons C H ' 8 18 heptane is (one last look at Webster's): 'Any of several isometric hydrocarbons C H of the methane 7 16 series; esp : the liquid normal isomer occuring in petroleum and used esp. as a solvent and in determining octane numbers.' Also, it seems to me that I have also heard 'ethyl' used in descibing premium leaded gas. I think this is just an example of the typical American's (of which I am one) urge to shorten words, as both regular and premium leaded gas could be considered 'ethyl-ated'. Please send all flames to '/dev/null'. Post to net.cycle any other info. -Roger