12.2 Fractional distillation of crude oil Flashcards
(3 cards)
What is crude oil separated into?
fraction via fractional distillation
How is fractional distillation carried out?
Fractional distillation is carried out in afractionating columnwhich is veryhotat thebottomandcoolat thetop
Crude oil enters the fractionating column and is heated sovapours rise
high**
Vapours of hydrocarbons with very highvapours rise
highboiling points will immediately condense into liquid at the higher temperatures lower down and are tapped off at the bottom of the column
Vapours of hydrocarbons withlowboiling points will rise up the column and condense at the top to be tapped off
The different fractions condense at different heights according to theirboiling pointsand are tapped off as liquids
The fractions containingsmallerhydrocarbons are collected at the top of the fractionating column as gases
The fractions containingbigger hydrocarbons are collected at the lower sections of the fractionating column
What are within fractions
groups of hydrocarbons ofsimilarchain lengths
- Hydrocarbons of similar chain length have similar boiling points
