crude oil is formed from the remains of dead plants and animals, Mainly plankton, that died millions of years ago and was buried in mud. over millions of years under high temperatures and pressure
crude oil is drilled up from where it's found
Crude oil is heated into a vapour and fed into the bottom of the fractionating column
there's a temperature gradient (Hot at the bottom, Cold at the top)
longer hydrocarbons with higher boiling points condense at the bottom
Shorter hydrocarbons have lower boiling points therefore condense at the top
In the end, each fraction contains and oil with a similar carbon amount therefore similar boiling points
The petrochemical industry uses some hydrocarbons as feedstock to make new compounds like polymers, lubricant, solvents and detergents
short hydrocarbon chains are flammable so are good fuels and in high demand
long hydrocarbon chains aren't that useful as they're thick. so theyr'e made useful by breaking them down to smaller chains using a process called cracking.
cracking also produces alkenes
cracking is a thermal decomposition reaction and breaks molecules down by heating them.
Thermal cracking: heat your crude oil until it's a vapour