CRUDE OIL

A guide for GCSE students

KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING

CRUDE OIL
INTRODUCTION
This Powerpoint show is one of several produced to help students
understand selected GCSE Chemistry topics. It is based on the requirements
of the AQA specification but is suitable for other examination boards.
Individual students may use the material at home for revision purposes and
it can also prove useful for classroom teaching with an interactive white
board.
Accompanying notes on this, and the full range of AS and A2 Chemistry
topics, are available from the KNOCKHARDY WEBSITE at...

www.knockhardy.org.uk

All diagrams, photographs and any animations in this Powerpoint are

original and created by Jonathan Hopton. Permission must be
obtained for their use in any work that is distributed for financial gain.

CRUDE OIL
CONTENTS
Origin of crude oil
Fractional distillation
Cracking

For more detailed information on the

properties of hydrocarbons such as
alkanes and alkenes, see the appropriate
Powerpoint on the Knockhardy GCSE site.
www.knockhardy.org.uk/gcse.htm

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS
IS A MIXTURE

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS
IS A MIXTURE

A mixture consists of two or more elements or

compounds not chemically combined together.
Other examples

AIR
SMARTIES

contains different gases

contains different sweets

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS
IS A MIXTURE

A mixture consists of two or more elements or

compounds not chemically combined together.
The chemical properties of each substance in the
mixture are unchanged
The oxygen in air behaves as oxygen
The orange Smarties in SMARTIES taste of orange

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS
IS A MIXTURE

A mixture consists of two or more elements or

compounds not chemically combined together.
The chemical properties of each substance in the
mixture are unchanged.
It is possible to separate the substances in a mixture by
physical methods including filtration, chromatography,
distillation and, for crude oil, fractional distillation.

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS
IS A MIXTURE
CONTAINS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPOUNDS

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS
IS A MIXTURE
CONTAINS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPOUNDS
CONTAINS MAINLY HYDROCARBONS
(compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen)

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS
IS A MIXTURE
CONTAINS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPOUNDS
CONTAINS MAINLY HYDROCARBONS
ALSO CONTAINS SULPHUR + SULPHUR COMPOUNDS
IS A DARK COLOURED VISCOUS LIQUID

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS
IS A MIXTURE
CONTAINS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPOUNDS
CONTAINS MAINLY HYDROCARBONS
ALSO CONTAINS SULPHUR + SULPHUR COMPOUNDS
IS A DARK COLOURED VISCOUS LIQUID

CRUDE OIL
WHAT IS IT?
CRUDE OIL

IS A FOSSIL FUEL DERIVED FROM AN ANCIENT

BIOMASS FOUND IN ROCKS
IS A MIXTURE
CONTAINS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPOUNDS
CONTAINS MAINLY HYDROCARBONS
ALSO CONTAINS SULPHUR + SULPHUR COMPOUNDS
IS A DARK COLOURED VISCOUS LIQUID

CRUDE OIL
HOW WAS IT FORMED?
FROM ORGANISMS WHICH LIVED MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO
THEIR REMAINS WERE COVERED BY LAYERS OF SEDIMENTARY ROCK
HEAT AND PRESSURE IN THE ABSENCE OF AIR CONVERTED THE
REMAINS INTO FOSSIL FUELS

GAS AND OIL

ARE TRAPPED
UNDERGROUND THEY CANT GET
THROUGH THE
NON-POROUS LAYERS

DRILLING PIPE
NON-POROUS
ROCKS
GAS
OIL

POROUS ROCK

CRUDE OIL
HOW IS IT PROCESSED?
CRUDE OIL CAN BE SPLIT INTO FRACTIONS
FRACTIONS - GROUPS OF COMPOUNDS WITH SIMILAR BOILING POINTS
THE PROCESS IS CALLED FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

THE
DISTILLATION
TOWER

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

CRUDE OIL IS FED

INTO THE TOWER

CRUDE OIL

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

THE CRUDE OIL IS

HEATED UNTIL IT ALL
TURNS TO GAS

CRUDE OIL
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

THE HOT GASES

ENTER AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE
TOWER

CRUDE OIL
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

THE HOT VAPOURS

(GASES) PASS UP THE
TOWER

CRUDE OIL
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

THE HOT VAPOURS

(GASES) PASS UP THE
TOWER. AS THE
TRAVEL UP, THEY
COOL DOWN.

CRUDE OIL
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

THE BITUMEN
FRACTION CONTAINS
THE LARGEST
MOLECULES AND
THEY HAVE THE
HIGHEST BOILING
POINTS THEY TURN
BACK TO LIQUID FIRST

CRUDE OIL

BITUMEN
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

MOLECULES IN THE
LUBRICATING OIL
FRACTION ARE NOT AS
LARGE AS THOSE IN
THE BITUMEN
FRACTION SO
CONDENSE FURTHER
UP THE TOWER

LUBRICATING OIL

CRUDE OIL

BITUMEN
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

AS THE REMAINING
VAPOUR COOLS
FURTHER FRACTIONS
ARE COLLECTED
THE LOWER THEIR
BOILING POINT, THE
FURTHER UP THE
COMPOUNDS GO

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

CRUDE OIL

BITUMEN
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

AS THE REMAINING
VAPOUR COOLS
FURTHER FRACTIONS
ARE COLLECTED
PARAFFIN

THE LOWER THEIR

BOILING POINT, THE
FURTHER UP THE
COMPOUNDS GO

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

CRUDE OIL

BITUMEN
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

AS THE REMAINING
VAPOUR COOLS
FURTHER FRACTIONS
ARE COLLECTED

PETROL

PARAFFIN

THE LOWER THEIR

BOILING POINT, THE
FURTHER UP THE
COMPOUNDS GO

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

CRUDE OIL

BITUMEN
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?
PETROLEUM GAS
COMPOUNDS IN THE
LIQUID PETROLEUM
GAS (LPG) FRACTION
HAVE VERY LOW
BOILING POINTS AND
DONT TURN BACK TO
THE LIQUID STATE

PETROL

PARAFFIN

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

CRUDE OIL

BITUMEN
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?
PETROLEUM GAS
PETROL

PARAFFIN

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

CRUDE OIL

BITUMEN
FURNACE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
ANIMATION

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?
PETROLEUM GAS
PETROL

MOLECULES
HAVE FEWER
CARBON ATOMS

PARAFFIN

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?
PETROLEUM GAS
PETROL

MOLECULES
ARE SMALLER

PARAFFIN

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?
PETROLEUM GAS
PETROL

MOLECULES
HAVE LOWER
BOILING POINTS

PARAFFIN

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?
PETROLEUM GAS
PETROL

MOLECULES
ARE MORE
VOLATILE

PARAFFIN

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

VOLATILE = Having a low boiling point

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?
PETROLEUM GAS
PETROL

MOLECULES
ARE LESS
VISCOUS

PARAFFIN

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

VISCOUS = not very runny (a bit like syrup)

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?
PETROLEUM GAS
PETROL

MOLECULES
IGNITE MORE
EASILY

PARAFFIN

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?
PETROLEUM GAS
PETROL

MOLECULES
REQUIRE LESS
OXYGEN TO BURN
PROPERLY

PARAFFIN

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

The more carbon atoms there are the more oxygen you need

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
Boiling
range / C

Cs per
molecule

Name of
fraction

Use(s)

< 25

1-4

LPG

Calor / Camping Gas

40-100

4 - 12

GASOLINE

Petrol

100-150

7 - 14

NAPHTHA

Petrochemicals

150-200

11 - 15

KEROSINE

Aviation

220-350

15 - 19

GAS OIL

Central Heating

> 350

20 - 30

LUBRICATING OIL Lubrication Oil

>400

30 - 40

FUEL OIL

Power Stations, ships

> 400

40 - 50

WAX, GREASE

Candles, grease

> 400
> 50
surfaces, Roofs

BITUMEN

Road

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FRACTIONS?
FRACTIONS ARE STILL MIXTURES
DIFFERENT FRACTIONS ARE PUT TO DIFFERENT USES
FRACTIONS CAN BE DISTILLED FURTHER
SOME FRACTIONS ARE MORE VALUABLE THAN OTHERS
THE HEAVIER FRACTIONS ARE LESS VALUABLE

FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FRACTIONS?
FRACTIONS ARE STILL MIXTURES
DIFFERENT FRACTIONS ARE PUT TO DIFFERENT USES
FRACTIONS CAN BE DISTILLED FURTHER
SOME FRACTIONS ARE MORE VALUABLE THAN OTHERS
THE HEAVIER FRACTIONS ARE LESS VALUABLE

LARGER MOLECULES CAN BE BROKEN DOWN TO SMALLER

ONES - THIS IS KNOWN AS CRACKING

CRACKING

CRACKING
WHY IS IT DONE?
LARGER HYDROCARBON MOLECULES ARE LESS USEFUL
THEY CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALLER MOLECULES
SMALLER MOLECULES ARE MORE USEFUL

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
LARGE HYDROCARBONS ARE VAPORISED (TURNED INTO GAS)

HEAT

LIQUID

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
LARGE HYDROCARBONS ARE VAPORISED (TURNED INTO GAS)

HEAT

LIQUID

VAPOUR

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
LARGE HYDROCARBONS ARE VAPORISED (TURNED INTO GAS)
THE VAPOURS ARE PASSED OVER A HOT CATALYST

HEAT

LIQUID

CATALYST

VAPOUR

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
LARGE HYDROCARBONS ARE VAPORISED (TURNED INTO GAS)
THE VAPOURS ARE PASSED OVER A HOT CATALYST
BONDS ARE BROKEN AND SMALLER MOLECULES ARE MADE

HEAT

LIQUID

CATALYST

VAPOUR

SMALLER MOLECULES

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
LARGE HYDROCARBONS ARE VAPORISED (TURNED INTO GAS)
THE VAPOURS ARE PASSED OVER A HOT CATALYST
BONDS ARE BROKEN AND SMALLER MOLECULES ARE MADE

HEAT

LIQUID

CATALYST

VAPOUR

SMALLER MOLECULES

THERMAL DECOMPOSITION (BREAKING UP BY HEATING) TAKES PLACE

CATALYSTS HELP SPEED UP REACTIONS

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
MANY DIFFERENT HYDROCARBONS ARE PRODUCED BECAUSE THE
MOLECULES CAN BREAK DOWN IN DIFFERENT WAYS

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
MANY DIFFERENT HYDROCARBONS ARE PRODUCED BECAUSE THE
MOLECULES CAN BREAK DOWN IN DIFFERENT WAYS

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
MANY DIFFERENT HYDROCARBONS ARE PRODUCED BECAUSE THE
MOLECULES CAN BREAK DOWN IN DIFFERENT WAYS

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
MANY DIFFERENT HYDROCARBONS ARE PRODUCED BECAUSE THE
MOLECULES CAN BREAK DOWN IN DIFFERENT WAYS

ALKANE

HYDROCARBONS WITH
SINGLE C-C BONDS ARE
CALLED ALKANES

ALKANE

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
MANY DIFFERENT HYDROCARBONS ARE PRODUCED BECAUSE THE
MOLECULES CAN BREAK DOWN IN DIFFERENT WAYS

ALKENE

ALKENE

HYDROCARBONS WITH A
DOUBLE C=C BOND ARE
CALLED ALKENES

CRACKING
WHAT HAPPENS?
MANY DIFFERENT HYDROCARBONS ARE PRODUCED BECAUSE THE
MOLECULES CAN BREAK DOWN IN DIFFERENT WAYS

ALKANE

ALKENE

HYDROCARBONS WITH
SINGLE C-C BONDS ARE
CALLED ALKANES

ALKANE

ALKENE

HYDROCARBONS WITH A
DOUBLE C=C BOND ARE
CALLED ALKENES

CRUDEOIL
THE END

2011 JONATHAN HOPTON & KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING