Fractional Distillation

Question 1

Describe the Process of Fractional Distillation

Answer 1

1: Crude oil heated

2: Long hydrocarbons remain as liquid at base of tower and tapped off in liquid form

3: Shorter chains vaporize and rise up the tower

4: As the hydrocarbons reach their boiling point in the tower. They condense from gas to liquid and are tapped of.

Question 2

Name each fraction in order

Answer 2

Petroleum Gas
Gasoline
Naphtha
Parafin
Diesel
Fuel Oil
Lubricating oil
Bitumen

Question 3

Viscosity

Answer 3

The longer the carbon chain, it has a higher viscosity as they have a larger surface area for dispersion forces to act across

Question 4

As we go up the fractionating column…

Answer 4

1:Shorter hydrocarbons
2: Low viscosity (Runny)
3: Easy to ignite
4: Low boiling point
5: Few intermolecular forces

Question 5

As we go down the fractionating column…

Answer 5

1: Longer Hydrocarbons
2: High viscosity (Thick)
3: Harder to ignite
4: Higher boiling point
5: More intermolecular forces

Question 6

Why would kerosene/paraffin be considered a safer fuel to use than gasoline?

Answer 6

Gasoline has a lower boiling point which makes it difficult to store whereas Kerosene has a higher boiling point which makes it safer to store and handle.

Question 7

Where is the hottest part in the fractional distillation column?

Answer 7

Bottom of the column

Question 8

Why do the longer hydrocarbon chains take more heat energy to change state from solid to liquid or liquid to gas?

Answer 8

The longer the chain, the more intermolecular forces there are between the molecules, and require more energy to break.