C 5 Crude oil and fuels Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is crude oil?
A mixture of hydrocarbons formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms over millions of years.
What are hydrocarbons?
Compounds made of hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
What are alkanes?
A family of saturated hydrocarbons with single bonds only, general formula CnH₂n+2.
What is the process used to separate crude oil?
Fractional distillation.
How does fractional distillation work?
Crude oil is heated and the vapours are separated by boiling point in a fractionating column. Each fraction contains hydrocarbons with similar boiling points.
What are the properties of short-chain hydrocarbons?
Lower boiling points, more flammable, more volatile, flow easily.
What are the properties of long-chain hydrocarbons?
Higher boiling points, less flammable, less volatile, thicker (more viscous).
What are some products of fractional distillation?
Petrol, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil, bitumen.
What happens during complete combustion of a hydrocarbon?
Produces carbon dioxide and water.
What happens during incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon?
Produces carbon monoxide, carbon (soot), and water.
Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?
It is toxic and binds to haemoglobin, preventing oxygen transport in the blood.
What is cracking?
A process where long-chain hydrocarbons are broken into shorter, more useful ones using heat and a catalyst or steam.
What are the products of cracking?
A shorter-chain alkane and at least one alkene.
Why is cracking important?
Produces more useful fuels and alkenes used to make plastics.
