Petrochemicals and Polymers Flashcards
(10 cards)
What are petrochemicals?
Chemicals derived from petroleum and natural gas, used as raw materials in the manufacture of various products.
Name two primary feedstocks for petrochemicals.
Naphtha and natural gas
What are the primary products of fractional distillation of crude oil?
Gases, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil, lubricating oil, bitumen
What is cracking in petrochemistry?
The process of breaking down large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful ones like alkenes.
What is steam cracking primarily used to produce?
Ethene (ethylene) and propene (propylene)
What is a polymer?
A large molecule made up of repeating subunits called monomers.
Name a common addition polymer.
Polyethylene (PE)
What type of polymerization involves the loss of small molecules like water?
Condensation polymerization
What is PVC and what is its monomer?
Polyvinyl chloride; monomer is vinyl chloride (CH₂=CHCl)
What is the environmental issue with synthetic polymers?
They are typically non-biodegradable and contribute to long-term pollution.
