Subjects

Chemistry

Intermolecular Forces and Properties

Crude Oil Magic: How Fractional Distillation Turns Oil into Different Fuels

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Crude Oil Magic: How Fractional Distillation Turns Oil into Different Fuels

Tanaka Machiridza

@tanakamachiridza

6 Followers

Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons that can be separated through fractional distillation process for crude oil. This process allows for the extraction of various useful products with different properties. The resulting fractions have distinct characteristics based on their molecular size and structure.

Fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions based on boiling points
Larger hydrocarbon molecules condense at higher temperatures
Properties and combustion of hydrocarbons vary depending on molecule size
Alkanes and alkenes are two important types of hydrocarbons found in crude oil
Understanding these concepts is crucial for utilizing crude oil products efficiently

2/2/2023

152

Ji
G
Fractional Disulation of Crude oil
Crude oil can be spilt into seperate hydrocarbons
11) Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons - Molec

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Burning Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons serve as important fuels due to their ability to release useful energy when reacted with oxygen. This process is known as combustion.

Definition: A fuel is a substance that reacts with oxygen to release useful energy.

Complete combustion occurs when there is an abundance of oxygen. The products of complete combustion of any hydrocarbon in oxygen are carbon dioxide and water.

Example: The balanced symbol equation for the complete combustion of methane (CH₄) is: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O + energy

Highlight: It's crucial to ensure that the number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms are the same on both sides of the equation.

Vocabulary: Volatile hydrocarbons are those that evaporate readily, posing a significant fire risk. This is why smoking is prohibited at petrol stations.

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Demonstrating Combustion Products

To demonstrate that a hydrocarbon fuel burns to produce carbon dioxide and water, a specific experimental setup can be used. This setup involves burning hexane and collecting the combustion products.

A water pump draws gases from the burning hexane through the apparatus.
Water collects inside a cooled U-tube, which can be identified by checking its boiling point.
Limewater turns milky when carbon dioxide passes through it, indicating the presence of CO₂.

Example: In this experiment, hexane is used as the hydrocarbon fuel. The combustion products are passed through crushed ice and water to cool them, allowing water vapor to condense in the U-tube.

Highlight: This practical demonstration provides visual evidence of the products formed during the complete combustion of hydrocarbons.

View

Alkanes: Saturated Hydrocarbons

Alkanes are an important class of hydrocarbons found in crude oil. They have distinct properties based on their structure.

Definition: Alkanes are hydrocarbons made up of chains of carbon atoms joined by single covalent bonds, surrounded by hydrogen atoms.

Key characteristics of alkanes:

They have the general formula CnH₂n+₂
All carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds
They are called saturated hydrocarbons because they have no spare bonds

Example: Methane (CH₄) and ethane (C₂H₆) are examples of alkanes.

Highlight: The difference between alkanes and alkenes can be determined by adding the substance to bromine water. Alkanes won't decolorize the bromine water as they have no spare bonds to react with bromine.

Vocabulary: Saturated hydrocarbons are compounds in which all carbon atoms are joined by single bonds, leaving no room for additional atoms to be added without breaking existing bonds.

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Alkenes: Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Alkenes are another important class of hydrocarbons found in crude oil. They differ from alkanes in their structure and properties.

Definition: Alkenes are hydrocarbons with chains of carbon atoms containing one or more double covalent bonds.

Key characteristics of alkenes:

They have the general formula CnH₂n for those containing one double bond
They are more reactive than alkanes due to their double bond
They can form polymers by opening their double bonds
They are called unsaturated hydrocarbons as their double bonds can open up and allow other atoms to join

Example: The first three alkenes are ethene (C₂H₄), propene (C₃H₆), and butene (C₄H₈).

Highlight: The difference between alkanes and alkenes in organic chemistry is evident in their reactivity. Alkenes will decolorize bromine water as they form bonds with it, while alkanes do not.

Vocabulary: Unsaturated hydrocarbons are compounds that contain at least one carbon-carbon double or triple bond, allowing them to undergo addition reactions.

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Structural Formulas of Alkenes

Alkenes have specific structural formulas that illustrate their double bond placement. Understanding these structures is crucial for predicting their properties and reactions.

Ethene (C₂H₄): H₂C=CH₂
Propene (C₃H₆): H₃C-CH=CH₂
Butene (C₄H₈): H₃C-CH₂-CH=CH₂ or H₃C-CH=CH-CH₃

Highlight: In butene, the double bond can be in different positions, leading to different isomers.

Example: The general formula for alkenes with one double bond is CnH₂n, where n is the number of carbon atoms.

Understanding the structural differences between alkanes and alkenes is crucial for predicting their behavior in chemical reactions and their uses in organic chemistry.

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Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil

The fractional distillation process for crude oil is a fundamental technique in the petroleum industry. Crude oil, a mixture of hydrocarbons, is separated into different fractions based on their boiling points. This process takes place in a fractionating column, where heated crude oil is introduced at the bottom.

Definition: Fractional distillation is a physical process that separates crude oil into fractions containing compounds with similar carbon chain lengths.

The properties of hydrocarbons depend on their size:

Larger hydrocarbons condense more quickly due to higher boiling points
Smaller molecules condense higher up the column
As molecule size decreases:
- Boiling point lowers
- Flammability increases
- Viscosity decreases
- Volatility increases

Highlight: The fractional distillation of crude oil diagram illustrates how different fractions are tapped off at various levels where they condense.

Vocabulary: Viscosity refers to a fluid's resistance to flow, with less viscous substances being less "gloopy" and flowing more easily.

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Subjects

Chemistry

Intermolecular Forces and Properties

Crude Oil Magic: How Fractional Distillation Turns Oil into Different Fuels

Tanaka Machiridza

@tanakamachiridza

6 Followers

Fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions based on boiling points
Larger hydrocarbon molecules condense at higher temperatures
Properties and combustion of hydrocarbons vary depending on molecule size
Alkanes and alkenes are two important types of hydrocarbons found in crude oil
Understanding these concepts is crucial for utilizing crude oil products efficiently

2/2/2023

152

Chemistry

Burning Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons serve as important fuels due to their ability to release useful energy when reacted with oxygen. This process is known as combustion.

Definition: A fuel is a substance that reacts with oxygen to release useful energy.

Complete combustion occurs when there is an abundance of oxygen. The products of complete combustion of any hydrocarbon in oxygen are carbon dioxide and water.

Example: The balanced symbol equation for the complete combustion of methane (CH₄) is: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O + energy

Highlight: It's crucial to ensure that the number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms are the same on both sides of the equation.

Vocabulary: Volatile hydrocarbons are those that evaporate readily, posing a significant fire risk. This is why smoking is prohibited at petrol stations.

Demonstrating Combustion Products

To demonstrate that a hydrocarbon fuel burns to produce carbon dioxide and water, a specific experimental setup can be used. This setup involves burning hexane and collecting the combustion products.

A water pump draws gases from the burning hexane through the apparatus.
Water collects inside a cooled U-tube, which can be identified by checking its boiling point.
Limewater turns milky when carbon dioxide passes through it, indicating the presence of CO₂.

Example: In this experiment, hexane is used as the hydrocarbon fuel. The combustion products are passed through crushed ice and water to cool them, allowing water vapor to condense in the U-tube.

Highlight: This practical demonstration provides visual evidence of the products formed during the complete combustion of hydrocarbons.

Alkanes: Saturated Hydrocarbons

Alkanes are an important class of hydrocarbons found in crude oil. They have distinct properties based on their structure.

Definition: Alkanes are hydrocarbons made up of chains of carbon atoms joined by single covalent bonds, surrounded by hydrogen atoms.

Key characteristics of alkanes:

They have the general formula CnH₂n+₂
All carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds
They are called saturated hydrocarbons because they have no spare bonds

Example: Methane (CH₄) and ethane (C₂H₆) are examples of alkanes.

Highlight: The difference between alkanes and alkenes can be determined by adding the substance to bromine water. Alkanes won't decolorize the bromine water as they have no spare bonds to react with bromine.

Vocabulary: Saturated hydrocarbons are compounds in which all carbon atoms are joined by single bonds, leaving no room for additional atoms to be added without breaking existing bonds.

Alkenes: Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Alkenes are another important class of hydrocarbons found in crude oil. They differ from alkanes in their structure and properties.

Definition: Alkenes are hydrocarbons with chains of carbon atoms containing one or more double covalent bonds.

Key characteristics of alkenes:

They have the general formula CnH₂n for those containing one double bond
They are more reactive than alkanes due to their double bond
They can form polymers by opening their double bonds
They are called unsaturated hydrocarbons as their double bonds can open up and allow other atoms to join

Example: The first three alkenes are ethene (C₂H₄), propene (C₃H₆), and butene (C₄H₈).

Highlight: The difference between alkanes and alkenes in organic chemistry is evident in their reactivity. Alkenes will decolorize bromine water as they form bonds with it, while alkanes do not.

Vocabulary: Unsaturated hydrocarbons are compounds that contain at least one carbon-carbon double or triple bond, allowing them to undergo addition reactions.

Structural Formulas of Alkenes

Alkenes have specific structural formulas that illustrate their double bond placement. Understanding these structures is crucial for predicting their properties and reactions.

Ethene (C₂H₄): H₂C=CH₂
Propene (C₃H₆): H₃C-CH=CH₂
Butene (C₄H₈): H₃C-CH₂-CH=CH₂ or H₃C-CH=CH-CH₃

Highlight: In butene, the double bond can be in different positions, leading to different isomers.

Example: The general formula for alkenes with one double bond is CnH₂n, where n is the number of carbon atoms.

Understanding the structural differences between alkanes and alkenes is crucial for predicting their behavior in chemical reactions and their uses in organic chemistry.

Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil

Definition: Fractional distillation is a physical process that separates crude oil into fractions containing compounds with similar carbon chain lengths.

The properties of hydrocarbons depend on their size:

Larger hydrocarbons condense more quickly due to higher boiling points
Smaller molecules condense higher up the column
As molecule size decreases:
- Boiling point lowers
- Flammability increases
- Viscosity decreases
- Volatility increases

Highlight: The fractional distillation of crude oil diagram illustrates how different fractions are tapped off at various levels where they condense.

Vocabulary: Viscosity refers to a fluid's resistance to flow, with less viscous substances being less "gloopy" and flowing more easily.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

4.9+

Average App Rating

15 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 12 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

Stefan S, iOS User

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User