Topic 6 - Crude Oil

Question 1

what is crude oil?

Answer 1

a mixture of hydrocarbons

Question 2

how does the length of hydrocarbons affect boiling point?

Answer 2

longer hydrocarbons have higher boiling points

Question 3

how is crude oil separated?

Answer 3

1. the oil is heated until it is mostly gas, then enters a fractionating column
2. in the column the temperature gets gradually cooler as you go up
3. when the substance reaches a part of the column where the temperature is lower than its boiling point it condenses
4. substances with high boiling points condense early - at the bottom
5. bubble caps stop separated liquids from remixing

Question 4

what is a saturated hydrocarbon?

Answer 4

a hydrocarbon only containing single bonds between carbons

Question 5

what is a unsaturated hydrocarbon?

Answer 5

a hydrocarbon also containing double or triple bonds between carbons