Crude oil is a major source of raw material for the petrochemical industry.
4.7 A valuable mixture
Ancient marine animals trapped in sedimentary rocks millions of years ago decomposed to form a mixture of hydrocarbons known as crude oil. Crude oil is found in underground reservoirs, trapped in rock formations. It is pumped up to the surface before being refined.
Assumed background knowledge
4.7 Activity 1. What's in the mix?
Students should:
- 4.7 know that crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons
4.8. Activity 2. Dividing the fractions
Students should:
- 4.8 describe how the industrial process of fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions
4.9. Activity 3. What's the trend?
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Students should:
- 4.9 know the names and uses of the main fractions obtained from crude oil: refinery gases, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil and bitumen
- 4.10 know the trend in colour, boiling point and viscosity of the main fractions
4.11 - 4.12 Activity 4. Open Air
Students should:
- 4.11 know that a fuel is a substance that, when burned, releases heat energy
- 4.12 know the possible products of complete and incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons with oxygen in the air
Many of the hydrocarbons obtained from crude oil are combustible. They will burn in the oxygen of the air to produce the oxides of hydrogen ( water ) and carbon. The reaction releases energy and is therefore exothermic.