Petrochemicals are chemicals made from crude oil and natural gas, which are types of fossil fuels found underground. These chemicals are used to make many everyday products, such as plastics, medicines, fertilisers, and synthetic fibres for clothing. Crude oil is processed in oil refineries, where it is separated and broken down into useful substances. In GCSE Chemistry, students learn about processes like cracking (breaking large hydrocarbons into smaller ones) and polymerisation (joining small molecules to make polymers), which help turn petrochemicals into useful materials. Understanding petrochemicals shows how chemistry links to modern life.
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