How does petrol or diesel not freeze as easily as a water bottle in sub zero temperature?

Answer 1

Petrol and diesel are hydrocarbons (consisting of only hydrogen and carbon), and are non-polar. Water, on the other hand, contains polar hydroxy groups such that one molecule of water can form a hydrogen bond with another molecule of water, building a chain of water molecules; this increases its viscosity and apparent molecular weight. Hydrogen bonding produces much more structure among the water molecules, making crytallzation easier. Hydrogen bonding cannot take place as much in non-polar hydrocarbons, but is prevalent in water. The answer to the question is hydrogen bonding.