| Molecule/Component | Domain/Context | Class | Formula/Composition | Immediate role | Upstream inputs | Downstream outputs | Material Class | Functional Property |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olive oil | Food/Industrial | Fixed plant oil | Triglycerides (oleic acid-rich) | Nutritional lipid, cooking, cosmetics | Olive fruit pressing | Digestion, soap production | Fluid (lipid) | Monounsaturated fat; oxidative stability |
| Coconut oil | Food/Industrial | Fixed plant oil | Triglycerides (lauric acid-rich) | Nutritional lipid, surfactants | Coconut kernel pressing | Digestion, biodiesel | Fluid (lipid) | Medium-chain triglycerides; antimicrobial |
| Palm oil | Food/Industrial | Fixed plant oil | Triglycerides (palmitic + oleic acids) | Cooking, processed food | Palm fruit pressing | Food, biodiesel | Fluid (lipid) | High yield; saturated/unsaturated balance |
| Soybean oil | Food/Industrial | Fixed plant oil | Triglycerides (linoleic + oleic acids) | Cooking, industrial uses | Soybean pressing/extraction | Food, biodiesel, polymers | Fluid (lipid) | Polyunsaturated fatty acids |
| Linseed (flaxseed) oil | Industrial/Food | Drying oil | Triglycerides (α-linolenic acid-rich) | Varnish, paint binder, nutrition | Flaxseed pressing | Polymerized coatings | Fluid (lipid) | Forms crosslinked films; omega-3 source |
| Castor oil | Industrial/Medicinal | Fixed plant oil | Triglycerides (ricinoleic acid) | Lubricant, laxative | Castor seed pressing | Industrial chemicals | Fluid (lipid) | Hydroxylated fatty acids; high viscosity |
| Fish oil | Nutritional/Medicinal | Marine animal oil | Triglycerides (EPA/DHA-rich) | Nutritional supplement | Fish tissue extraction | Digestion, metabolism | Fluid (lipid) | Omega-3 fatty acids; anti-inflammatory |
| Cod liver oil | Nutritional/Medicinal | Marine animal oil | Triglycerides + vitamins A & D | Nutritional supplement | Cod liver extraction | Digestion, nutrient storage | Fluid (lipid) | Vitamin-rich omega-3 source |
| Mineral oil | Industrial | Petroleum-derived oil | Hydrocarbons (C15–C40 alkanes) | Lubricant, coolant, moisture barrier | Petroleum distillation | Lubrication, coatings | Fluid (hydrocarbon) | Inert, non-drying, water-repellent |
| Engine oil | Industrial | Lubricating oil | Base oil + additives | Engine lubrication, heat transfer | Petroleum refining, additive blending | Engine protection | Fluid (engineered oil) | High viscosity index; anti-wear protection |
| Hydraulic oil | Industrial | Engineered oil | Base oil + anti-wear additives | Power transmission | Oil refining, additive blending | Hydraulic work | Fluid (engineered oil) | Incompressible; high lubricity |
| Essential oil (lavender) | Aromatic/Medicinal | Volatile plant oil | Terpenes (linalool, linalyl acetate) | Fragrance, aromatherapy | Steam distillation of flowers | Perfume, therapy | Fluid (volatile lipid) | Aromatic; bioactive |
| Essential oil (peppermint) | Aromatic/Medicinal | Volatile plant oil | Menthol, menthone, other terpenes | Flavoring, medicinal | Steam distillation of leaves | Flavoring, medicinal | Fluid (volatile lipid) | Cooling sensation; antimicrobial |
| Essential oil (tea tree) | Aromatic/Medicinal | Volatile plant oil | Terpinen-4-ol, cineole | Antimicrobial, medicinal | Steam distillation of leaves | Skin treatment, disinfectant | Fluid (volatile lipid) | Broad-spectrum antimicrobial |
| Biodiesel | Industrial/Energy | Transesterified oil | Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) | Renewable fuel | Transesterification of plant/animal oils | Combustion energy | Fluid (biofuel) | High cetane number; biodegradable |
Key terms in plain language
Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.
Broadband
A general term for always-on, high-speed Internet access. Broadband can be delivered over fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless, cellular, or satellite networks.
Cloud Computing
Computing resources—such as applications, servers, storage, or databases—delivered from remote infrastructure and scaled as requirements change.
Cybersecurity
The practices and controls used to protect identities, devices, networks, applications, and data from unauthorized access, disruption, or manipulation.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
The systems and policies that determine who a user is, what resources they may access, and how that access is authenticated and reviewed.
API
An application programming interface is a defined way for software systems to exchange data or request functions from one another.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Software designed to perform tasks involving prediction, classification, generation, reasoning, or decision support. Business use still requires clear data, governance, security, and human accountability.