Crude Oil and Fuels

• Alkanes


  Saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CH₂n+2
• Alkenes


  Unsaturated hydrocarbons with a carbon-carbon double bond
• Alcohols


  Contain the functional group -OH
• Plastics


  Polymers made from monomers
• Cracking hydrocarbons


  Breaking down larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful ones
• Polymerisation


  The process of forming polymers from monomers
• Alkanes


  • Good thermal and electrical insulators
  • Flexible
  • Strong
• Plastics


  • Low density
  • Do not rot
  • Resistant to corrosion
• Isomerism


  Molecules which have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas
• Addition reactions


  Two atoms can be added across the C-C bond in an alkene, forming a saturated compound
• Hydrogenation


  When hydrogen is added to an alkene, the corresponding alkane is formed
• Bromine water test


  Used to test for alkenes, turns from orange-brown to colourless when added to an alkene
• Polyethylene


  A type of plastic
• PVC


  A type of plastic
• PTFE


  A type of plastic
• Fractional distillation


  The process of separating the components of crude oil into fractions based on their different boiling points
• Crude oil is composed of a mixture of hydrocarbons
• Hydrocarbons


  Compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms
• Fuels


  Substances that can be burned to produce heat, light, or power
• Hydrogen is used as a fuel for some cars
• There are shortages of hydrogen for use as a fuel
• Fire triangle


  • Fuel
  • Oxygen
  • Heat
• Crude oil is decomposed before and after refining, and the hydrocarbons are separated into different fractions
• The lower the boiling point, the higher in the column a compound will be collected
• Fractions are mixtures containing hydrocarbon compounds that have similar chain lengths and related boiling points
• Intermolecular forces


  The forces of attraction between molecules that hold them together
• Larger molecules have more intermolecular forces that need to be overcome in order for melting or boiling to occur
• These intermolecular forces also explain why longer chain hydrocarbons are more viscous, less easy to pour, and have higher boiling points