Crude Oil & Fractional Distillation Flashcards
1
Q
What is Crude Oil?
A
Crude oil is a raw material found in the Earth’s crust. It’s a thick black liquid that’s made from a mixture of hydrocarbons.
2
Q
What are hydrocarbons?
A
Hydrocarbons are compounds that are made only from carbon and hydrogen atoms.
3
Q
What is the differences between different hydrocarbons?
A
Some hydrocarbons have small molecules but others have much longer chain molecules.
4
Q
How is Crude Oil separated?
A
Fractional Distillation into useful fractions
5
Q
What are similar in hydrocarbons in a fraction?
A
They have similar boiling points.
6
Q
What do different fractions have?
A
Different boiling points.
7
Q
How can fractions in Crude Oil be separated by fractional distillation?
A
- Crude oil is heated to evaporate all the hydrocarbons
8
Q
What is the next step?
A
- The vapour passes into the fractionating column near the bottom and cools down as it rises.
9
Q
What is the third step?
A
- Each fraction condenses to a liquid and runs off when it has cooled below its boiling point
10
Q
And the final step?
A
- Any remaining gases leave the tower at the top and are used as gaseous fuels.
