Fractional distillation 4.7.1.2

Question 1

What is crude oil?

Answer 1

• oil which has been obtained from the earth

- is a mixture of hydrocarbons

Question 2

what is fractional distillation used for?

Answer 2

-used to separate rude oil into fractions

Question 3

what is a fraction?

Answer 3

a mixture of hydrocarbons with similar boiling points.

Question 4

Describe the process crude oil goes through so it cab be separated into fractions?

Answer 4

Crude oil is heated, so it turns into a gas (evaporated), which is pumped into the column. The column is hot at the bottom and gets cooler as you go up it. Some long chained hydrocarbons, with high boiling points condense immediately and are collected as a liquid. \the gas/vapour rises up the column, until the substance condenses at its boiling point. The fractions are collected in trays. Some short chained hydrocarbon, with low boiling points don’t condense are collected as a gas.

Question 5

what are some uses of the fuels fractional distillation produces?

Answer 5

~ petrol - fuels for cars
~naptha - manufacture of chemicals
~kerosene - fuel planes
~diesel - fuel for cars, lorries and trucks
~bitumen - lay roads