Topics 3,4,5 - Acids, Metals And Fuels: Fractional Distillation Of Crude Oil

Question 1

What’s the name of the process used to separate the hydrocarbons in crude oil into different fractions?

Answer 1

Fractional distillation

Question 2

Name some fractions of crude oil and say what they’re used for.

Answer 2

E.g.
Gases - used for cooking and heating.
Petrol - used to fuel cars.
Kerosene - used as an aircraft fuel.
Diesel - used as a fuel for lorries, trains and some cars.
Fuel oil - used as a fuel for ships and in some power stations.
Bitumen - used to surface roads and roofs.

Question 3

In what ways do the hydrocarbons in different fractions of crude oil differ from each other?

Answer 3

Their molecules contain different numbers of carbon and hydrocarbon atoms.
They have different condensing points.
Some ignite more easily than others.
Some are more viscous than others.

Question 4

What is a hydrocarbon?

Answer 4

A molecule that contains ONLY carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Question 5

What is crude oil?

Answer 5

A mixture of many different sized hydrocarbon molecules.