Petrochemistry became an independent scientific field in connection with the transition of the chemical industry from coal raw materials to oil and gas in the 1950s-60s. During this period, the term "petrochemistry" supersedes the previously established name "oil chemistry". The concept of "oil chemistry" is used in a narrower sense – to denote a separate one. section of petrochemistry devoted to the study of the composition of oils and the properties of their components.

The main tasks of petrochemistry:

The most important petrochemical products are: