3.3.2.1 fractional distillation

• what is crude oil?

  mixture of different hydrocarbons
• how is crude oil separated into the separate molecules>

  by fractional distillation
• what do the different chain lengths of molecules result in?

  the molecules having different boiling points
• fractional distillation method:

  1. the mixture is vaporised and fed into the fractionating column
  2. vapours rise, cool and condense
  3. products are siphoned off for different uses
• short carbon chains boiling points

  lower - rise higher up the column before reaching their boiling point and are collected at the top of the column
• long carbon chains boiling point

  higher boiling point - condense and are collected at the bottom of the column
• what happens after the compounds are collected from the fractionating column?


  they are then broken down further via cracking
• fractional distillation column