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 contains different gases

SMARTIES 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 DRILLING PIPE

ARE TRAPPED
NON-POROUS
UNDERGROUND -
ROCKS
GAS
THEY CANT GET OIL
THROUGH THE
NON-POROUS LAYERS 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
DIESEL
COMPOUNDS GO

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
DIESEL
COMPOUNDS GO

LUBRICATING OIL

CRUDE OIL BITUMEN

FURNACE
 FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

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

LUBRICATING OIL

CRUDE OIL BITUMEN

FURNACE
 FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
WHAT HAPPENS?

PETROLEUM GAS

COMPOUNDS IN THE
LIQUID PETROLEUM PETROL
GAS (LPG) FRACTION
HAVE VERY LOW
BOILING POINTS AND
PARAFFIN
DONT TURN BACK TO
THE LIQUID STATE

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 PARAFFIN
HAVE FEWER
CARBON ATOMS
DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN
 FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?

PETROLEUM GAS

PETROL

MOLECULES PARAFFIN
ARE SMALLER

DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN
 FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?

PETROLEUM GAS

PETROL

MOLECULES PARAFFIN
HAVE LOWER
BOILING POINTS
DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN
 FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?

PETROLEUM GAS

PETROL

MOLECULES PARAFFIN
ARE MORE
VOLATILE
DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

VOLATILE = Having a low boiling point

 FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?

PETROLEUM GAS

PETROL

MOLECULES PARAFFIN
ARE LESS
VISCOUS
DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

VISCOUS = not very runny (a bit like syrup)

 FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?

PETROLEUM GAS

PETROL

MOLECULES PARAFFIN
IGNITE MORE
EASILY
DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN
 FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
HOW DO THE FRACTIONS DIFFER?

PETROLEUM GAS

PETROL

MOLECULES PARAFFIN
REQUIRE LESS
OXYGEN TO BURN
PROPERLY DIESEL

LUBRICATING OIL

BITUMEN

The more carbon atoms there are the more oxygen you need
FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
Boiling Cs per Name of Use(s)
range / C molecule fraction

< 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 BITUMEN Road

surfaces, Roofs
 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 CATALYST

LIQUID 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 CATALYST

LIQUID 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 CATALYST

LIQUID 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 ALKANE

HYDROCARBONS WITH
SINGLE C-C BONDS ARE
CALLED ALKANES
 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 ALKANE ALKENE

HYDROCARBONS WITH HYDROCARBONS WITH A

SINGLE C-C BONDS ARE DOUBLE C=C BOND ARE
CALLED ALKANES CALLED ALKENES
 CRUDEOIL
THE END

2011 JONATHAN HOPTON & KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING