What Is Crude Oil

The petroleum we pump out of the ground turns into a range of useful things: fuel for all forms of transportation, a key ingredient in plastics, and more. Alexis Madrigal, The Atlantic s senior technology editor, takes a look at the chemistry of crude oil in the twominute video above, explaining the process of distilling one barrel, gallon by gallon. Animated by Lindsey Testolin, this clip is part of a sixpart video series in The User s Guide to Energy special report. Alexis Madrigal: