Crude Oil (NEW) Flashcards
What is Crude Oil?
A complex mixture of hydrocarbons that was formed over millions of years from the remains of simple marine organisms
In fractional distillation why are some hydrocarbons higher than others?
- The longer the carbon chain
- The greater the number of intermolecular forces
- the more heat energy needed to overcome the force
- the higher the boiling/melting point
What are fractions?
Fractions are mixtures containing hydrocarbon compounds that have similar chain lengths and, therefore, similar boiling points
Why when you go up the fractional column they are better fuels?
- lower boiling points (as they have a lower carbon chain)
- lower viscosity
- higher flammability
What are the political issues with oil?
Countries that produce oil for other countries hold a great deal of political power as they can essentially ‘cut off’ other countries from the crude oil supply over any political disagreements.
What are the economic issues with oil?
- The price of crude oil is controlled by oil companies, they have a great deal of influence on the global economy.
- War or a political crisis in an oil-producing country can restrict crude oil supplies, which can have a major impact on the global economy
What are the environmental issues with oil?
- Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributes to global warming
- Oil spillages can have a disastrous effect on the local environment, killing off thousands of animals and is difficult to clean up
- Oil refineries and oil-fired power stations take up a lot of land and so destroy potential wildlife habitats and spoil the countryside
What is the combustion reaction of fuels?
hydrocarbon + oxygen = Carbon dioxide + water
What is the equation for energy per gram?
energy per gram = energy released ÷ mass of fuel burnt
What is the equation for the combustion of Hydrogen?
hydrogen + oxygen → water
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
What are advantages of using Hydrogen as a fuel?
- No CO2 emissions
- Renewable
What are disadvantages of using Hydrogen as a fuel?
- expensive to produce
- explosive
- difficult to store
What is the fire triangle and how do firefighter use this to stop fires?
- consists of fuel, oxygen and heat
- remove one of these to stop the fire
Why and how do we crack Hydrocarbons?
- By breaking large hydrocarbons into smaller ones by heating heavier fractions to a high temperature in the presence of a catalyst.
- An alkene is also formed
What are alkenes used to make?
Smaller hydrocarbons and alkenes can be used to make plastics
What is the general formula for ALKANES?
Cn H2n + 2
What is the general formula for ALKENES?
Cn H2n