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
