Crude Oil
Overview
Crude oil is one of the most important raw materials on the planet. Pumped from deep underground, this thick dark liquid is a mixture of hundreds of different hydrocarbons. By separating and burning these hydrocarbons, we power vehicles, heat homes, and manufacture plastics.
In this lesson you will learn how crude oil is separated by fractional distillation, what each fraction is used for, and how the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels produces both useful energy and harmful pollutants. This topic appears regularly in Paper 1 (Chemistry).
Objectives
- Know that crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons
- Know the names and uses of the main fractions obtained from crude oil: refinery gases, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil and bitumen
- Know the trend in colour, boiling point and viscosity of the main fractions
- Know that a fuel is a substance that, when burned, releases heat energy
- Know the possible products of complete and incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons with oxygen in the air
- Understand why carbon monoxide is poisonous, in terms of its effect on the capacity of blood to transport oxygen
- Know that, in car engines, the temperature reached is high enough to allow nitrogen and oxygen from air to react, forming oxides of nitrogen
- Explain how the combustion of some impurities in hydrocarbon fuels results in the formation of sulfur dioxide
- Understand how sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen contribute to acid rain
Mind map
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Flashcards
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Crude Oil. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Crude oil is a mixture of: A) Metals B) Salts C) Hydrocarbons D) Alcohols Answer: C
- Which fraction has the highest boiling point? A) Refinery gases B) Gasoline C) Kerosene D) Bitumen Answer: D
- Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it: A) Is flammable B) Reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen C) Causes acid rain D) Is a greenhouse gas Answer: B
- As the chain length of hydrocarbons increases, viscosity: A) Decreases B) Stays the same C) Increases D) Fluctuates Answer: C
- Acid rain is caused by: A) Carbon dioxide only B) Sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen C) Carbon monoxide D) Water vapour Answer: B
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Further learning from open sources
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Textbook section
Biogeochemical Cycles
Discuss the biogeochemical cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur
"Biology: Biogeochemical Cycles" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/46-3-biogeochemical-cycles. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/1-introduction
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Textbook section
Transport of Gases in Human Bodily Fluids
Describe how oxygen is bound to hemoglobin and transported to body tissues
"Biology: Transport of Gases in Human Bodily Fluids" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/39-4-transport-of-gases-in-human-bodily-fluids. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/1-introduction
Published by other organisations under open licences, credited as they ask. Links open their websites.
Practice Mock Questions
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