Crude Oil and Fractional Distillation

• What do hydrocarbons contain?

  Hydrogen and carbon atoms
• What is crude oil?

  A mixture of many hydrocarbons
• How is crude oil formed?

  From dead plants and animals buried in mud
• What is crude oil processed to produce?

  Fuels and stock chemicals for manufacturing
• What is complete combustion?

  An oxidation with plenty of oxygen
• What is the equation for complete combustion of hydrocarbons?

  Hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
• Why are hydrocarbons used as fuels?

  Combustion releases a lot of energy
• How does the length of the hydrocarbon chain affect its properties?

  Boiling point increases, viscosity increases, flammability decreases
• What type of bonds do alkanes have?

  Only single bonds
• What is fractional distillation?

  A process to separate hydrocarbons by boiling points
• What happens to longer hydrocarbons during fractional distillation?

  They condense near the bottom of the column
• Where do shorter hydrocarbons condense in fractional distillation?

  Near the top of the column
• What is LPG?

  Liquefied petroleum gas
• What are some products derived from crude oil?

  Petrol, kerosene, diesel oil, heavy fuel oil
• What is the initial step in fractional distillation of crude oil?

  Crude oil is heated until most has evaporated
• What happens to hydrocarbons during the heating process in fractional distillation?

  Most hydrocarbons evaporate
• What is the relationship between boiling points and hydrocarbon chain length?

  Longer hydrocarbons have higher boiling points
• What are the main steps in fractional distillation of crude oil?

  1. Crude oil is heated until most evaporates.
  2. Hydrocarbons separate based on boiling points.
  3. Shorter hydrocarbons condense at the top.
  4. Longer hydrocarbons condense at the bottom.