C9: Crude oils and fuels Flashcards
what is a hydrocarbon
compound containing carbon and hydrogen only
how is crude oil formed
over millions of years from the remains of ancient biomass
what are the alkanes
hydrocarbons that only have single bonds
what are the first four alkanes
methane,ethane,propane,butane
what is the general formula for the alkanes
CnH2n+2
how does boiling point depend on chain length
longer the chain, higher the boiling point
how does viscosity depend on the chain length
longer the chain, higher the viscosity
how can the different alkanes in crude oil be separated
fractional distillation
what is a fraction
a group of hydrocarbons with similar chain lengths
Name five useful fuels produced from fractional distillation
petrol, diesel oil, kerosene, heavy fuel oil, and liquefied petroleum gases
name four useful materials produced from crude oil fractions
solvents, lubricants, polymers, detergents
what is cracking
breaking down a hydrocarbon with a long chain into smaller molecules
name two methods to carry out cracking.
steam cracking and catalytic cracking
what are the products of cracking
short chain alkanes and alkenes
what are alkenes
hydrocarbons with a double bond