Question

Groundnut oil is a
A) Non drying oil
B) Essential oil
C) Drying oil
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Groundnut oil is a vegetable oil obtained from peanuts and thus is also known as peanut oil. It does not harden and oxidise easily.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse the options to find the correct answer

Option A: A non drying oil is an oil in which hardening does not take place on exposure to air. It has an iodine number of less than 115. Vegetable and mineral oils come under this category. Examples include Groundnut oil and Cottonseed oil. Hence, this is the correct option.
Option B: Drying oils harden completely on exposure to air and they have an Iodine number of more than 115. They are fatty oils and made from vegetable matter. On reacting with oxygen in the air they get hard or solidify and a dryness is felt on touching them. They are also vegetable oils and examples include Linseed and Poppy oil. Hence, this is an incorrect option.
Option C: Essential oils are extracted from plants which have a lot of potential benefits. They are a concentrated hydrophobic extract of plants and are not made up of fatty acids. Such oils have an essence or aroma of plants from which they are extracted. Examples include Clove oil and Lemon oil. Hence, this is an incorrect option.
Option D: It’s an incorrect option.

Thus, the correct option is option (A) Non drying oil.

Note: The various uses of groundnut oil is,

They can be used as a substitute for vegetable oil in cholesterol patients.
They can be applied directly to the skin in cases of joint pain, dry skin, arthritis.
They can be used for cooking.