Lubricant: Any substance introduced between two moving or sliding surface to reduce the frictional resistance between them is known as lubricant.
Classification:
i) Solid lubricants:
Examples: graphite, molybdenum disulphide, soap, soapstone, wax, talc, chalk, mica etc
ii) Semi-solid lubricants:
Examples: greases and Vaseline.
iii) Liquid lubricants:
Examples: vegetable and animal oils such as castor, olive, coconut, palm, neem, linseed, hazel nut, tallow, lard, whale, cod-liver oil etc. and fatty acids like oleic acid, Stearic acid etc., silicones, blended oils, and mineral oils.