1. Crude oil and fractional distillation

2. What do I need to know?
Must Recall that crude oil is a mixture of a large number of compounds Should Define the term hydrocarbon Could Explain how the compounds in crude oil can be separated using physical methods including fractional distillation

3. Crude oil
Crude oil is a mixture of a very large number of compounds and is made from the the bodies of plants and animals that have decayed many millions of years ago. A mixture is two or more substances NOT chemically combined together (such as a mixture of sand and water that can be separated by filtration).

4. Hydrocarbons
Most of the compounds in crude oil consist of molecules made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
We call these HYDROCARBONS
We can separate the different unchanged hydrocarbons from crude oil by FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION.

5. Fractional distillation
Fractional distillation 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 low boiling points condense at the top.
Fractional distillation works because the different substances in the mixture have different boiling points.

7. Key points for exam questions
To explain fractional distillation [3 marks]
Heat crude oil to make it a gas/vapour
Cool to condense
Hydrocarbons condense at different temperatures (boiling points).

8. Different hydrocarbon – different BP
Different hydrocarbons have different numbers of carbon atoms.
The higher the number of carbon atoms the higher its boiling point.

9. Key points for exam questions
A fraction is a set of hydrocarbon molecules of similar size and similar boiling points
Different fractions have different uses.
Lighter fractions are more useful as fuels than heavier fractions.
The petrol fraction and diesel fraction are key fractions for the oil industry.

13. C1.4 Crude oil
Alkanes

14. Objectives
Must
Recall that most of the compounds in crude oil consist of hydrocarbons called alkanes.
Should
Describe the general formula of an alkane and draw the structure.
Could
Explain the naming of alkanes up to a chain length of four carbon atoms.

15. Carbon chains
Alkanes are chains of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached to them.
There is an alkane with one carbon atom, two carbon atoms, three, four, five and so on. The chains can be massive with hundreds of carbon atoms.
You need be able to name and draw the first four and recognise some larger ones.

16. Methane One carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms.
Each line represents a single covalent bond.

17. Two carbon atoms six hydrogen atoms
Ethane
Two carbon atoms six hydrogen atoms

18. Three carbon atoms eight hydrogen atoms
Propane
Three carbon atoms eight hydrogen atoms

19. Four carbon atoms ten hydrogen atoms
Butane
Four carbon atoms ten hydrogen atoms

20. CnH2n+2 Can you spot a pattern?
Every time we increase the number of carbons what happens to the number of hydrogens?
We can work out a general formula for any alkane it is:
CnH2n+2
where n is the number of carbon atoms
and 2n+2 is the number of hydrogen atoms

21. Counting in chemistry
Rather than the numbers 1,2,3 and 4 when we are counting in chemistry we use the terms:
meth_ = 1
eth_ = 2
prop_ = 3
but_ = 4
The first four alkanes are therefore called methane, ethane, propane and butane.

25. Properties of hydrocarbons
C1.4 Crude Oil
Properties of hydrocarbons

26. What do I need to know?
Must recall the term alkane and the names for the first four alkanes in the series. State that these substances are commonly used as fuels. Should describe the difference between a saturated and an unsaturated hydrocarbon Could explain the boiling points, flammability and viscosity of hydrocarbon fuels.

27. Saturated and unsaturated
Ethane
Ethene
All single bonds
Full of hydrogen
Saturated
Has double bond
Fewer hydrogens
Unsaturated

29. Liquid/Gas
For this list of substance state whether liquid or gas at room temperature? The temperature when something boils is also the temperature when it condenses eg water boils at 100°C it also condenses at 100°C
Hydrocarbon
Boiling point in °C
Solid/Liquid/Gas
methane, CH4
-162
butane, C4H10
pentane, C5H12
+36
decane, C10H22
+175

30. Viscosity This simply means thickness of solution.
For example water has a lower viscosity than treacle
Generally the higher the molecular weight (longer carbon chain) the more viscous the substance is.
Bitumen has very long chain molecules and is very viscous and stick (tar).

31. Boiling points

32. C1.4 Crude oil
Burning fuels

33. Objectives
Recall that most fuels contain carbon and/or hydrogen and may contain sulfur.
Describe how, when a fuel burns gases are released into the atmosphere.
Explain how the combustion of a fuel releases energy.

34. Hydrocarbon fuels We burn hydrocarbon fuels to release energy. Methane
Propane
Butane
Petrol
Diesel
Kerosene
Fuel oil
+ many more

35. Combustion
Complete combustion occurs when there is enough oxygen – for example when the hole is open on a Bunsen burner.
The products of complete combustion are carbon dioxide and water.
CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O

36. Test your understanding

37. Incomplete combustion
Incomplete combustion occurs when there is not enough oxygen – for example when the hole is closed on a Bunsen burner.
The products of incomplete combustion include carbon monoxide and carbon (soot). It is often called a sooty flame.

38. AfL – incomplete combustion

39. Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.
This means it causes global warming by trapping heat from the sun within the Earth’s atmosphere.

40. Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an odourless and tasteless poisonous gas.
If produced in an enclosed space it can be deadly.

41. Soot/smoke particles
Particles of carbon from incomplete combustion can be released into the atmosphere.
This contributes to GLOBAL DIMMING

42. Other pollutants
Sulphur present in fuels burns to produce sulphur dioxide.
At high temperatures oxides of nitrogen may also be formed from nitrogen in the atmosphere.
These react with water in the atmosphere to form ACID RAIN

43. Cleaning up
Undesirable combustion products can be cleaned from emissions before they leave the chimney by using a filter or catalytic converter (cars).

44. Exam question

45. Exam question

46. Exam question

47. Exam question

48. C1.4 Crude Oil
Biofuels

49. What do I need to know?
Recall that biofuels are produced from plant material
Describe the fuels that can be produced from plant material
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of making fuel from renewable sources.

50. The problem with crude
Crude oil is a limited resource that will eventually run out.
Alternatives are needed and some are already under development.

51. Ethical and environmental issues
Clearance of rainforests to plant fuel crops
Using land formerly used for food crop (causing hardship)
Not replacing crops with sufficient crops after harvest for the process to remain carbon neutral
Erosion – replacing trees with crops with shallow roots

52. Carbon neutral – bioethanol, biodiesel and biomass
Plants photosynthesise using carbon (dioxide) from the air
Biodiesel/biothanol releases carbon (dioxide) from plants
Plants are replanted and photosynthesise, removing the carbon (dioxide) again.
By contrast
(fossil) diesel from crude oil releases ‘locked up’ carbon (dioxide) and doesn’t absorb any CO2

54. Different types of biofuels
Ethanol – produced by fermentation of sugars in sugarcane rather than from aalkanes.
Biodiesel – produced from hydrolysis of vegetable oils

55. Examination question

56. Examination question

57. Mark scheme

58. Past paper question.

59. Mark scheme