Crude Oil Flashcards
What is meant by the term non-renewable?
Used up faster than it is being made
Name some fossil fuels?
Crude oil, coal, natural gas
What is a hydrocarbon?
A molecule that only contains hydrogen and carbon atoms
What process is used to separate crude oil in to useful fractions?
Fractional distillation
What does a fractionating column have?
A temperature gradient which make its hotter at the bottom then the top
Where do fractions with low boiling point leave the column?
They leave at the top
Where do fractions with high boiling points leave the column?
They leave at the bottom
Which fraction contains propane and butane
LPG
What is cracking?
Breaking down long hydrocarbons in to smaller more useful, short chain hydrocarbons
What conditions does cracking need?
Catalyst, high temp, high pressure
Why is cracking carried out?
To make alkene molecules that may be used to make polymers
What forces are there in a hydrocarbon molecule?
Strong covalent bonds between the atoms in the molecule and weak intermolecular forces
