C8 - Crude oil and fuels Flashcards
what is crude oil
the remains of ancient biomass consisting mainly of plankton that was burried in mud
what is a process by which crude oil can be sepereated
fractional distilation
what is a finite reasource
non-renewable. and will eventually run out
what are hydrocarbons
molecues made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms only
what is an alkane
a series of compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen atoms with single covalent bonds
what is an alkene
molecules with a double carbon bonds
what is boiling point
the temperature at which liquid turns to gas
what is volatility
the tendency to turn into a gas
what is viscosity
the ease of throwing
what is flammability
the ease of burning
how does fractional distilation work
- crude oil is heated to 350*C in a furnace and hydrocarbons evaporate
- the vapours enter the fractioning colum which is hotter at the bottom and cooler at the top
- as vapours rise they cool and condense at their boiling point
- long chain alkanes collect near the bottom and shorter chain alkanes collect near the top
what are some examples of alkanes
- methane
- ethane
- propane
- butane
what are some examples of alkenes
- ethene
- propene
- butene
- pentene
what is cracking
the breaking down of hydrocarbons into smaller more usefull molecues
what are two methods of cracking
- catalytic cracking
- steam cracking
