The properties of mineral oil are very common to the properties of which substance?

Mineral oil, derived from the refining of crude oil, shares many characteristics with petroleum oil as both originate from the same fossil fuel sources. They are both hydrocarbons and have similar physical properties, including viscosity, density, and the way they behave under various temperature conditions. Additionally, mineral oil and petroleum oil share applications in various industrial and medical fields, largely because they possess similar chemical compositions that result in analogous thermal and lubricating properties.

In contrast, while vegetable oil and animal fat are organic and derived from biological sources, they have different chemical structures, largely made up of triglycerides that can vary based on the type of plant or animal fat. Synthetic oils, on the other hand, are artificially manufactured and designed for specific properties and functionalities, differing significantly from mineral and petroleum oils. Thus, petroleum oil is the closest match in terms of properties and uses with mineral oil.