Final answer:
Synthetic oils are made from chemical compounds such as silicones and polyglycols, rather than directly from crude petroleum or its by-products like gasoline.
Step-by-step explanation:
Synthetic oils are a type of lubricant made from chemical compounds rather than whole crude petroleum. While petroleum can be processed and transformed into a variety of products, including lubricants, synthetic oils are typically engineered from different types of chemicals such as silicones, polyglycols, and other synthesized molecules, not directly from crude oil or its by-products like gasoline. These oils are designed to have specific properties that can provide superior performance in certain applications compared to conventional mineral oils. Silicones, in particular, are a group of synthetic compounds known for their stability and lubricating properties, which make them suitable for use in high-temperature environments.