7.3 Fractional Distillation

• What is the main topic of today's video?

  The separation of crude oil into its different components using fractional distillation
• What is crude oil primarily composed of?

  Mostly hydrocarbons, which contain only hydrogen and carbon
• How is crude oil formed?

  From the remains of dead plants and animals, particularly plankton
• What conditions contribute to the formation of crude oil?

  High pressures and temperatures over millions of years
• How long does it take for crude oil to form?

  Millions of years
• Why is crude oil considered a finite resource?

  Because it takes a long time to form and we are extracting it at a rapid rate
• What term is used to describe fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas?

  Non-renewable fuels
• What is the purpose of fractional distillation in crude oil processing?

  To separate different hydrocarbons based on their boiling points
• What is the first step in the fractional distillation process?

  Feed the oil into a chamber and heat it until it turns into gas
• What happens to the gaseous mixture in the fractionating column?

  It rises and condenses into liquids at lower temperatures
• How do the boiling points of hydrocarbons affect their separation in fractional distillation?

  Longer chain hydrocarbons have higher boiling points and condense first
• What is an example of a product obtained from the bottom of the fractionating column?

  Bitumen
• What are some uses of heavy fuel oil?

  Heating oil, fuel oil, or lubricating oil
• What types of fuels are produced from shorter chain hydrocarbons?

  Diesel, petrol, and kerosene
• What is LPG and what does it mainly contain?

  LPG stands for liquefied petroleum gas, mainly containing propane and butane
• How do the flammability and chain length of hydrocarbons relate?

  Shorter chain hydrocarbons are more flammable and make better fuels
• What happens to longer chain hydrocarbons that are poor fuels?

  They can be broken down into smaller hydrocarbons in a process called cracking
• What are petrochemicals used for?

  As feedstock for making solvents, lubricants, polymers, and detergents
• What is the process of fractional distillation in crude oil separation?

  1. Heat crude oil to turn it into gas.
  2. Pass the gas into a fractionating column.
  3. Gases rise and cool, condensing at different temperatures.
  4. Collect liquids based on their boiling points.
• What are the different fractions obtained from crude oil and their uses?

  • Bitumen: used for road surfacing
  • Heavy fuel oil: used for heating and lubricating
  • Diesel: used in cars and vehicles
  • Petrol: used in cars
  • Kerosene: used in jet engines
  • LPG: used for heating and cooking
• What are the characteristics of hydrocarbons based on chain length?

  • Short chain hydrocarbons: more flammable, better fuels
  • Long chain hydrocarbons: higher boiling points, often poor fuels
• What is cracking in the context of hydrocarbons?

  • A process to break down longer chain hydrocarbons into smaller, more useful hydrocarbons
• What are the applications of petrochemicals?

  • Used as raw materials for:
  • Solvents
  • Lubricants
  • Polymers
  • Detergents