organic chemistry - fractional distillation of crude oil

Question 1

how do we separate hydrocarbons in crude oil?

Answer 1

by fractional distillation

Question 2

what happens in fractional distillation?

Answer 2

crude oil is separated into fractions. fractions contain hydrocarbons with a similar number of carbon atoms

Question 3

First stage of fractional distillation?

Answer 3

crude oil heated to a very high temperature causing crude oil to boil. hydrocarbons evaporate and turn into a gas

Question 4

Second stage of fractional distillation?

Answer 4

crude oil vapour now fed into the fractional distillation column. column hotter at the bottom and cooler at the top

Question 5

third stage of fractional distillation?

Answer 5

hydrocarbon vapours rise up the column and condense when they reach their boiling point

Question 6

fourth stage of fractional distillation?

Answer 6

liquid fractions removed and remaining hydrocarbons continue moving up the column and condense when reach their boiling points

Question 7

what type of boiling points do very long chain hydrocarbons have and where are they removed

Answer 7

very high boiling points so removed from bottom of column

Question 8

what type of boiling points do very short chain hydrocarbons have and where are they removed

Answer 8

very low boiling points so don’t condense and removed from top of column as gases

Question 9

what do fractions contain?

Answer 9

hydrocarbons with a similar number of carbon atoms are fully

Question 10

what are some fractions used as?

Answer 10

fuel such as….
petrol, diesel (cars), kersosene (plane), heavy fuel oil, liquified petroleum gas

Question 11

what are other fractions used as?

Answer 11

feedstock for the petrochemical industry
e.g solvents, polymers, lubricants, detergents

Question 12

what is feedstock?

Answer 12

a chemical used to make other chemicals