Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that can be separated into different fractions using fractional distillation. Most of the compounds in crude oil are alkanes, which are hydrocarbons that follow the general formula CnH2n+2. Fractional distillation heats the crude oil and allows its vapors to condense at different temperatures in a fractionating column, separating the mixtures into fractions containing hydrocarbons with similar numbers of carbon atoms. Each fraction can then be used for different purposes like fuels.
2. Intoduction
Cycloalkanes
Structure of an alkane
Structure of Saturated hydrocarbons
Crude oil
Fractional distillation
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14.1 14.2 (pg. 215-217)
3. Crude oil is a mixture of compounds called hydrocarbons. Many useful materials
can be produced from crude oil. It can be separated into different fractions using
fractional distillation, and some of these can be used as fuels. Unfortunately, there
are environmental consequences when fossil fuels such as crude oil and its
products are used.
Hydrocarbons
Most of the compounds in crude oil are hydrocarbons. This means that they only
contain hydrogen and carbon atoms, joined together by chemical bonds. There are
different types of hydrocarbon, but most of the ones in crude oil are alkanes.
Alkanes
The alkanes are a family of hydrocarbons that share the same general formula. This
is: CnH2n+2
The general formula means that the number of hydrogen atoms in an alkane is
double the number of carbon atoms, plus two. For example, methane is CH4 and
ethane is C2H6. Alkane molecules can be represented by displayed formulae in
which each atom is shown as its symbol (C or H) and the chemical bonds between
them by a straight line.
4. Cycloalkanes
Cycloalkanes again only contain carbon-hydrogen
bonds and carbon-carbon single bonds, but this time
the carbon atoms are joined up in a ring. The smallest
cycloalkane is cyclopropane.
If you count the carbons and hydrogens,
you will see that they no longer fit the
general formula CnH2n+2. By joining the
carbon atoms in a ring, you have had to
lose two hydrogen atoms.
You are unlikely to ever need it, but the
general formula for a cycloalkane is CnH2n.
Don't imagine that these are all flat
molecules. All the cycloalkanes from
cyclopentane upwards exist as "puckered
rings".
This is known as the "chair" form of
cyclohexane - from its shape which
vaguely resembles a chair.
7. Crude oil
Crude oil forms naturally over millions of years
from the remains of living things. Most of the
compounds in crude oil are hydrocarbons. These
are compounds that contain hydrogen and
carbon atoms only, joined together by chemical
bonds called covalent bonds. There are different
types of hydrocarbon, but most of the ones in
crude oil are alkanes.
9. Fractional distillation is different from distillation in
that it separates a mixture into a number of
different parts, called fractions.
A tall column is fitted above the mixture, with
several condensers coming off at different heights.
The column is hot at the bottom and cool at the
top. Substances with high boiling
points condense at the bottom and substances with
lower boiling points condense on the way to the
top.
The crude oil is evaporated and its vapors condense
at different temperatures in the fractionating
column.
Each fraction contains hydrocarbon molecules with
a similar number of carbon atoms.
10. Because they have different boiling points, the substances in crude oil can be
separated using fractional distillation. The crude oil is evaporated and its
vapours allowed to condense at different temperatures in the fractionating
column. Each fraction contains hydrocarbon molecules with a similar
number of carbon atoms.
As you go up the fractionating column, the hydrocarbons have:
lower boiling points
lower viscosity (they flow more easily)
higher flammability (they ignite more easily).
This means that in general hydrocarbons with small molecules make better
fuels than hydrocarbons with large molecules.