Tetraethyllead

Tetraethyllead (commonly styled tetraethyl lead), shortened to TEL, is a chemical compound with the formula (CH3CH2)4Pb. They added this into petro-fuel. It was first mixed with gasoline in the 1920s. It increased vehicle performance and fuel economy by stopping engine knocking. TEL had been identified chemically in the mid-19th century. In recent years, this chemical has been linked to climate change and is highly toxic. It is no longer used in fuels because of this (most are now "unleaded").

References

Category:Organometallic compounds
Category:Lead compounds
Category:Pollution