8. Crude oil & fuels Flashcards
What are the main substances in Crude oil?
Hydrocarbons
What are Hydrocarbons?
Compound consisting of only Carbon and Hydrogen
How is Crude oil separated?
Through fractional distillation
What happens in a fractioning column ?
During fractional distillation, the fractionating column work continuously, with heated crude oil popped in at the bottom. The oil evaporates and rises up the column. The temperature decreases the further up the column you go, so the various fractions are constantly tapped off at the different levels where they condense. The longer the chain the higher the boiling point.
What are saturated Hydrocarbon called?
Alkanes
What is the general formula for the homologous series of alkenes?
Cn H2n+2
The shorter the Hydrocarbon, the …
More runny the Hydrocarbon is
The lower the boiling point
The more flammable they are
What happens to the Carbon and Hydrogen atoms during combustion?
They are oxidised
What does Sulphur dioxide result in?
Acid rain
Pros and cons of the use of Ethanol as an alternative fuel source
Pros: Plants are Carbon neutral and only product is water which is renewable
Cons: Worry that as demand for biofuels increases, farmers might just grow crops for biofuel instead of food. Causing food prices to rocket and potentially causing a famine
Pros and cons of Biodiesel
Pros: Carbon neutral, engines don’t have to be converted as works with normal diesel, but produce much less particulate than other diesel or fuels
Cons: Can be expensive and will never be able to completely replace diesel
Pros and cons of Hydrogen as a fuel source
Pros: Only product formed is water
Cons: Need as special expensive Hydrogen engine, you still need another source of energy to make it
Hydrogen is very hard to store
