The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Tetraethyl lead is an organometallic compound with the chemical formula (C2H5)4Pb. In 1922, automotive engineers found that the addition of a small amount of this compound to gasoline improves engine performance and reduces knocking. Knocking is a physical phenomenon that results when low-octane gasoline is burned in an internal combustion engine. Until 1975, tetraethyl lead was the most common additive used to reduce knocking in motor fuels. This additive presents an environmental hazard, however, since lead is expelled into the environment during operation of automobile engines using leaded fuels. Given the growing concern about the health effects of lead, the compound has now been banned for use in gasolines in the United States.