C6.2.5 - Alkanes from crude oil

Question 1

What is crude oil?

Answer 1

A complex mixture of hydrocarbons, mostly alkanes, formed from the dead remains of dead organisms over millions of years

Question 2

What is fossil fuel?

Answer 2

Fuel formed from the remains of dead organisms over million of years, e.g. crude oil, coal, natural gas

Question 3

Why can fractional distillation be used separate the crude oil apart?

Answer 3

Because the different alkanes have different boiling points.

Question 4

In general, the more carbon atoms there are in the alkane molecules:

Answer 4

• the larger the molecules
• the stronger the intermolecular forces
• the higher the boiling point

Question 5

Where is it the hottest in the fractionating column for separating crude oil?

Answer 5

The bottom

Question 6

Where is it the coldest in the fractionating column for separating crude oil?

Answer 6

The top

Question 7

What are the separated parts of the crude oil called?

Answer 7

Fractions

Question 8

What is the order of the fractions from top to bottom

Answer 8

LPG, petrol, paraffin, diesel, heating oil, fuel oil, bitumen

Question 9

How does the crude oil enter the fractionating column?

Answer 9

It enters as vapour