Crude Oil & Fractional Distillation (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry: Double Science)

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Fractional distillation of crude Oil

  • Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons
  • As a mixture it is not a very useful substance but the different hydrocarbons that make up the mixture, called fractions, are enormously valuable, with each fraction having many different applications
  • Each fraction consists of groups of hydrocarbons of similar chain lengths
  • The molecules in each fraction have similar properties and boiling points, which depend on the number of carbon atoms in the chain
  • The fractions in petroleum are separated from each other in a process called fractional distillation
  • The size and length of each hydrocarbon molecule determines in which fraction it will be separated into
  • The size of each molecule is directly related to how many carbon and hydrogen atoms the molecule contains
  • Most fractions contain mainly alkanes, which are compounds of carbon and hydrogen with only single bonds between them

Fractional distillation of crude oil Fractional-Distillation, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Diagram showing the process of fractional distillation to separate crude oil in a fractionating column

How does fractional distillation work?

  • Fractional distillation is carried out in a fractionating column which has a temperature gradient 
    • It is very hot at the bottom of the column and cooler at the top
  • During the process of fractional distillation:
    • The crude oil is heated and vapourises
    • The vapours of hydrocarbons enter the column which has a temperature gradient
    • The vapours of hydrocarbons with high boiling points condense at the bottom of the column
    • The vapours of hydrocarbons with lower boiling points rise up the column and condense at the top 

Examiner Tip

As you move up a fractionating column the temperature decreases, so the compounds with higher boiling points come off lower down the column.

The Main Fractions

Properties of the main fractions of crude oil

Viscosity

  • This refers to the ease of flow of a liquid
  • High viscosity liquids are thick and flow less easily
  • If the number of carbon atoms increases, the attraction between the hydrocarbon molecules also increases which results in the liquid becoming more viscous with the increasing length of the hydrocarbon chain
  • The liquid flows less easily with increasing molecular mass

Colour

  • As carbon chain length increases the colour of the liquid gets darker as it gets thicker and more viscous

Melting point/boiling point

  • As the molecules get larger, the intermolecular attraction becomes greater
  • So more heat is needed to separate the molecules
  • With increasing molecular size there is an increase in boiling point

Volatility

  • Volatility refers to the tendency of a substance to vaporise
  • With increasing molecular size hydrocarbon liquids become less volatile
  • This is because the attraction between the molecules increases with increasing molecular size

Trend in boiling point of the main fractions

Fraction Number of carbon atoms Boiling point Boiling point & viscosity increase going down
Refinery gas 1-4 Below 25
Gasoline / petrol 4-12 40-100
Naptha 7-14 90-150
Kerosene / paraffin 12-16 150-240
Diesel / gas oil 14-18 220-300
Fuel oil 19-25 250-320
Lubricating oil 20-40 300-350
Bitumen More than 70 More than 350

What are the fractions used for? 

  • 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
  • The array of fractions in crude oil and the huge range of compounds we can produce from them all stem from carbon’s ability to form multiple strong covalent bonds with itself leading a huge number of organic compounds
  • The main fractions and their uses are described in the following table:

Uses of Crude Oil Fractions

Fraction Use
Liquified petroleum gas Domestic heating & cooking
Petrol Fuel for cars (gasoline)
Kerosene Jet fuel (paraffin)
Diesel Diesel engines (gas oil)
Heavy fuel oil Ships & power stations
Bitumen Surfacing roads and roofs

Examiner Tip

You need to learn the names and uses of the main fractions obtained from crude oil: refinery gases(also known as liquid petroleum gases), gasoline, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil and bitumen. Gasoline and petrol are the same thing; gasoline is the term used in the USA.

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Stewart

Author: Stewart

Expertise: Chemistry Lead

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Exam Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.