fractional distillation

• crude oil:

  • crude oil is a fossil fuel
  • formed from remains of plankton, plants and animals that died and were buried in mud
  • with high temperature and pessure
  • mixture of many hydrocarbons
• fractional distillation:

  • oil vaporised
  • gas enters fractionating column
  • fractions have different boiling ranges
  • temperature gradient in column - hot at bottom, cold at top
  • fractions condense at different levels
  • short chains collect at top - low boiling point
  • long chains collect at bottom - high boiling point
• • crude oil used as fuel for transport
  • hydrocarbons from crude oil used as feedstock to make new compounds
  • e.g polymers, solvents, lubricants, detergents
  • products of crude oil are organic compounds (containing carbon atoms)
  • variety as organic compunds can form homologous series