4.5.1 Crude oil

Question 1

Why does crude oil boil over a large range of temperature?

Answer 1

Different hydrocarbons in crude oil come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes.

Question 1

What is crude oil?

Answer 1

Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons, compounds of hydrogen and carbon only.

Question 2

Why do we separate crude oil?

Answer 2

Most of the hydrocarbons are useful, but often for different purposes. We separate the oil into fractions which contain similarly used molecules.

Question 3

What is a fraction of crude oil?

Answer 3

A fraction of crude oil is a mixture of similar hydrogens with similar boiling points.

Question 4

As boiling points increase:
- Fractions get … in colour
- Fractions get … (like treacle)

Answer 4

… darker…
… more viscous …

Question 5

What are properties and uses of refinery gases?

Answer 5

BP - low
Molecular Mass - low
Colour - light
Viscosity - low
Use - fuel for home cooking

Question 6

What are properties and uses of gasoline?

Answer 6

BP - lowish
Molecular Mass - lowish
Colour - lightish
Viscosity - lowish
Use - fuel for cars

Question 7

What are properties and uses of kerosene?

Answer 7

BP - medium
Molecular Mass - medium
Colour - medium
Viscosity - medium
Use - fuel for aircraft

Question 8

What are properties and uses of diesel?

Answer 8

BP - medium
Molecular Mass - medium
Colour - medium
Viscosity - medium
Use - fuel for trains

Question 9

What are properties and uses of fuel oil?

Answer 9

BP - highish
Molecular Mass - highish
Colour - darkish
Viscosity - highish
Use - fuel for ships

Question 10

What are properties and uses of bitumen?

Answer 10

BP - high
Molecuclar Mass - high
Colour - dark
Viscosity - high
Use - making roads