Crude Oil Flashcards
(14 cards)
what is crude oil?
a mixture of hydrocarbons - compounds of hydrogen and carbon only
how is crude oil separated by fractional distillation?
- heated crude oil vapours enter the column
- vapours rise until they reach their boiling point, when they condense (the fractionating column is hotter at the bottom and colder at the top)
- different vapours condense at different heights due to their different boiling points
- similar vapours condense together as a fraction
what are fractions?
mixtures containing the hydrocarbons that boil in a particular temperature range - each fraction may contain saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons
as the boiling points of the fractions increase…
- the fractions get darker in colour
- the fractions get more viscous
order of fractions of boiling point
LOW boiling point
refinery gases
gasoline
kerosene
diesel
fuel oil
bitumen
HIGH boiling point
order of fractions of molecular mass
LOW molecular mass
refinery gases
gasoline
kerosene
diesel
fuel oil
bitumen
HIGH molecular mass
order of fractions of colour
LIGHT in colour
refinery gases
gasoline
kerosene
diesel
fuel oil
bitumen
DARK in colour
order of fractions of viscosity
LOW in viscosity
refinery gases
gasoline
kerosene
diesel
fuel oil
bitumen
HIGH in viscosity
refinery gases use
fuel for home cooking
gasoline use
fuel for cars
kerosene use
fuel for aircraft
diesel use
fuel for trains
fuel oil use
fuel for ships
bitumen use
making roads
