Crude oil, Fuels and Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What is Crude oil
A complex mixture of hydrocarbons
How was crude oil formed
From the remains of simple marine organisms over millions of years.
What are hydrocarbons
Compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen atoms only.
What does crude oil consist of
Dozens of hydrocarbons with carbon chains of varying lengths
Through what process are the fractions of crude oil separated?
Fractional distillation
Explain the process of fractional distillation (3)
1) Crude oil is boiled/vaporised before it enters the fraction in column
2) the hydrocarbons present condense at different heights in the column
3) The lower the boiling point, the higher in the column a compound is collected.
What are fractions (in fractional distillation)
Fractions are mixtures containing hydrocarbon compounds (alkanes) that have similar boiling points and therefore similar chain lengths.
What is the order of fractions collected in fractional distillation, highest to lowest, ()
1) petroleum gases
2) gas/petrol
3) naphtha
4) kerosine(paraffin)
5) diesel
6) lubricating oil
7) fuel oil
8) bitumen
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Use of petroleum gases
Bottled gas for portable burners
Use of gasoline/petrol
Fuel for cars
Use of naphtha
Used to make other chemicals, such as plastics
Use of kerosene
Fuel for aircraft
Use of diesel
Fuel for lorries and trains
Use of lubricating oil
Car oil
Use of fuel oil
Fuel for ships and heating buildings
Use of bitumen
Used as the ‘tar’ to make road surfaces
What are the trends in properties of fractions with increasing chain length? (5)
As chain lengths of hydrocarbons present in a fraction increase:
- boiling points increase
- viscosity increases
- ‘ease of ignition” decreases
- cleanliness of burn decreases
- the colour becomes darker
What happens to colour as average hydrocarbon chain length of a fraction increases?
It becomes darker. Colourless –> Yellow —> Brown
What are the environmental impacts of the oil industry? (2)
- Burning fuels causes global warming
- and acid rain
Why is there growing demand for crude oil?
Rapidly growing economies (e.g. in China and India) will consume greater amounts of energy year on year. Crude oil is used to supply that energy (but it is unsustainable in the long term).
What are the economic impacts of growing demand for crude oil? (3)
- It increases the price of crude oil
- it increases individual’s heating and travel costs
- it indirectly causes inflation (e.g. in food prices)
Is crude oil renewable?
No
What are some important uses of components of crude oil (other than fuel)? (3)
- plastics
- medicines
- products
What two options will people have to eventually decide on for the remaining reserves of crude oil?
- burning them
- using it for other purposes (e.g. products)
What element does the combustion of any fuel require?
Oxygen
What elements are produced in the combustion reaction of hydrocarbons? (2)
- Carbon dioxide
- water
Are all combustion reactions endothermic or exothermic?
Exothermic
Describe the steps of a simple experiment to determine the amount of energy released by a fuel? (6)
1) measure the initial mass of the fuel in the spirit burner with a digital balance
2) fill the calorimeter with a known volume of water
3) measure the starting temperature of the water with a thermometer
3) light the flame - burn the fuel
4) measure the final temperature of the water
5) measure the final mass of the fuel
6) record the mass change of the fuel and the temperature change of the water
What is the only product of the combustion reaction of hydrogen?
Water
What is hydrogen used as a fuel for?
It is rocket fuel
What are hydrogen fuel cells used to power nowadays?
Cars
What are the advantages of using hydrogen as a fuel? (2)
- renewable (produced from water)
- does not contribute to global warming or acid rain (water is the only product of its combustion)
What are the disadvantages of using hydrogen as a fuel? (4)
- It requires large amounts of electricity to produce hydrogen from water by electrolysis
- the electricity may be produced by non - renewable fuels that contribute to global warming and acid rain
- storage requires bulky and heavy pressurized containers
- it is potentially hazardous as it forms an explosive mixture with air
What is the fire triangle? (3)
The fire triangle shows the 3 factors required for combustion to occur. It includes:
- oxygen
- heat
- fuel
Where is the fire triangle used? (2)
- In firefighting
- and fire prevention
How can oxygen be removed in a fire? (3)
- fire blanket
- CO2 extinguisher
- sand
How can fuel be removed in a fire? (3)
- non flammable materials
- fuel breaks
- switch off gas
How can heat be removed in a fire? (2)
- water
- damp cloth
What is cracking?
The breaking down of some fractions of crude oil to produce smaller and more useful hydrocarbon molecules.
What is an example of a more useful product that can be made from cracking?
Breaking down larger fractions of crude oil to produce monomers (alkenes) that can be used to make plastics
What does the cracking process involve? (2)
Heating fractions obtained from crude oil to a high temperature in the presence of a catalyst.
Explain the cracking process? (3)
- A high temperature and catalyst are applied to the fraction (obtained from crude oil)
- this causes the hydrocarbon molecules present to decompose
- this forms smaller molecules, including an alkene
What hydrocarbons are the a greater demand for - smaller or larger?
Smaller
Why is there a greater demand for smaller hydrocarbons? (2)
There is a greater demand for smaller hydrocarbons because they are more useful and alkenes such as ethene are the starting material for the production of many plastics.
What is the general formula for alkenes?
CnH2n
(n represents the number of carbon atoms)
What is the general formula for alkanes?
CnH2n+2
(n represents the number of carbon atoms)
What is molecular formula
A formula that shows the number of each type of atom present in a molecule.
How many bonds must carbon atoms always have?
4
What is an alkane? (2)
A hydrocarbon that contains single bonds between the carbon atoms only (and is said to be saturated).
What is an alkene?
A hydrocarbon that contains a double covalent bond between two carbon atoms (and is said to be unsaturated)
How many carbon atoms does methane have?
1
How many carbon atoms does ethane have?
2
How many carbon atoms does propane have?
3
How many carbon atoms does butane have?
4
How many carbon atoms does pentane have?
5
What is the molecular formula for methane?
CnC2n+2
CH4
What is the molecular formula for ethane?
CnH2n+2
C2H6
What is the molecular formula for propane?
CnH2n+2
C3H8
What is the molecular formula for butane?
CnH2n+2
C4H10
What is the molecular formula for pentane?
CnH2n+2
C5H12
How many carbon atoms are in ethene?
2