Fractional distillation of crude oil

Question 1

What is crude oil?

Answer 1

A mixture of hydrocarbons, mostly alkanes

Question 2

How is crude oil separated?

Answer 2

Into groups of alkanes with similar boiling points using a process called fractional distillation

Question 3

What is the process of fractional distillation?

Answer 3

1. Crude oil is heated in a furnace to make vapour.
2. The vapour passes into the column, which has a negative temperature gradient.
3. Alkanes separate by boiling point, e.g. longer chain alkanes, which have higher boiling points, condense nearer the bottom of the column

Question 4

What does each fraction contain?

Answer 4

A range of different alkanes with similar boiling points