Crude Oil (Edexcel GCSE Chemistry)
Revision Note
Crude Oil
Mixture of Hydrocarbons
Crude oil is a complex mixture of lots of different hydrocarbon compounds of different sizes
Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon atoms only
It is a thick, sticky, black liquid that is found in porous rock (under the ground and under the sea)
Diagram showing crude oil under the sea
Chains & Rings
The hydrocarbon molecules in crude oil consist of a carbon backbone which can be in a ring or chain, with hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms
The mixture contains molecules with many different ring sizes and chain lengths
Crude oil is a mixture containing different sized hydrocarbon molecules
Useful Substances
Crude oil is the main source of hydrocarbons which are used for producing fuels such as petrol and diesel.
It is also a main source of raw materials (called feedstock) for the petrochemical industry
Finite Resource
Crude oil formed over millions of years from the effects of high pressures and temperatures on the remains of plants and animals
Since it is being used up much faster than it is being formed crude oil is a finite resource
The petrochemical industry is hugely important for modern society and development
The fuels that are used in most modern methods of transport (cars, trains, airplanes etc.) are all based on oil products
Polymers, lubricants, solvents, detergents and adhesives are all products that are obtained from crude oil
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