Fractional Distillation & Petrochemicals Flashcards
All 7 cards in this deck
What name is given to the process used to separate crude oil into fractions?
Fractional distillation.
What do all the hydrocarbon molecules in one fraction of crude oil have in common?
They have a similar number of carbon atoms.
What are the steps in the fractional distillation of crude oil?
e.g. collecting the kerosene fraction
- Heat the crude oil so the hydrocarbons evaporate (vaporise).
- Vapours rise up a column with a temperature gradient (cooler going up).
- Each fraction condenses at the level matching its boiling point — kerosene condenses and is collected at that level.
In a fractionating column, where do hydrocarbons with higher boiling points condense?
Lower down, where the column is hotter.
Name four fuels produced from crude oil.
Petrol, diesel oil, kerosene, heavy fuel oil (also liquefied petroleum gases).
Name four useful materials made by the petrochemical industry from crude oil feedstock.
Solvents, lubricants, polymers and detergents.
True or false? Fractions from crude oil are only used as fuels.
False. They are also processed to give feedstock for the petrochemical industry, making solvents, lubricants, polymers and detergents.