C9 Crude oil and fuels Flashcards
alkane
saturated hydrocarbon with the general formula CnH2n+2, for example, methane, ethane, and propane
alkene
unsaturated hydrocarbon which contains a carbon–carbon double bond. Its general formula is CnH2n, for example, ethene, C2H4
cracking
the reaction used in the oil industry to break down large hydrocarbons into smaller, more useful ones
distillation
separation of a liquid from a mixture by evaporation followed by condensation
double bond
a covalent bond made by the sharing of two pairs of electrons
flammable
easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly
fraction
hydrocarbons with similar boiling points separated from crude oil
fractional distillation
a way to separate liquids from a mixture of liquids by boiling off the substances at different temperatures, then condensing and collecting the liquids
general formula
a formula that represents the common structure of all compounds in a single class of chemicals. For example, the general formula of all alkanes is CnH2n+2
hydrocarbon
a compound containing only hydrogen and carbon
mixture
when some elements or compounds are mixed together and intermingle but do not react together (i.e. no new substance is made). A mixture is not a pure substance
oxidised
a substance that has had oxygen added to it/ or has lost electrons
saturated hydrocarbon
describes a hydrocarbon with only single bonds between its carbon atoms. This means that it contains as many hydrogen atoms as possible in each molecule
thermal decomposition
the breakdown of a compound by heating it
unsaturated hydrocarbon
a hydrocarbon whose molecules contains at least one carbon– carbon double bond
