What fundamental distinction defines a lubricant as the chemical term "synthetic oil"?
Answer
It has been manufactured chemically rather than refined from crude oil.
The chemical definition of synthetic oil hinges entirely on its origin and manufacturing process, separating it from conventional lubricants. Synthetic oil is fundamentally characterized by being chemically manufactured through synthesis, which involves building molecules specifically for the desired properties, molecule by molecule. This contrasts sharply with mineral oils, which are refined from naturally occurring crude oil, resulting in molecules that naturally vary in size and shape, leading to performance inconsistencies under stress compared to their chemically uniform synthetic counterparts.

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