5.12 - I recall that fractional distillation of crude oil produces more long-chain hydrocarbons than can be used directly and fewer short-chain hydrocarbons than required

a.       When crude oil undergoes Fractional Distillation there are too many large chain hydrocarbons (eg Fuel oil and Bitumen) produced and not enough small chain hydrocarbons (eg Gasoline and Refinery Gases).

b.      To solve these problems the large chain hydrocarbons undergo a chemical reaction called Cracking.

5.11 - I can recall how nitrogen oxides are formed in car engines

a.       Write the general equation for the combustion of a fuel	Fuel + Oxygen  Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy
b.      During combustion the nitrogen in air can react to form what gases?	During combustion nitrogen may react with oxygen to form Nitrogen Oxides or NOx gases.
c.       What condition is necessary for the formation of these gases?	In order for the Nitrogen and Oxygen in the air to react during combustion, an extremely high temperature is necessary.
d.      In what common object is this condition found?	The high temperature necessary to form NOx gases can be found in the combustion engine of an automobile or car.
e.      Why is this condition needed for nitrogen to react?	A high temperature is necessary because it provides the energy needed to break to strong, triple covalent bond between the Nitrogen atoms. Ultimately, the high temperature allows the reaction to take place by causing the Nitrogen to become reactive instead of inert.
f.        What are the dangers of the products from this reaction?	The NOx gases have several dangerous properties. When dissociated in water, they form Nitric acid, which contributes to acid rain. In addition, the NOx gases can cause Asthma, nausea, may agitate tissues, and overall can remove up to nine years from one’s lifespan.

5.7 - describe how the industrial process of fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions

5.10 recall that incomplete combustion of fuels may produce carbon monoxide and explain that carbon monoxide is poisonous because it reduces the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen

       

What are the properties of carbon monoxide?    Carbon Monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that is roughly the same density as air. Carbon Monoxide has a higher affinity for haemoglobin than Oxygen and bonds more quickly with red blood cells. This results in rapid and intense Oxygen deprivation and can be fatal.

Explain how carbon monoxide is formed.    Carbon Monoxide is formed through incomplete combustion. When a flame is burning in oxygen, the oxygen is normally used in the combustion to make Carbon Dioxide (One Carbon and two Oxygen molecules). However, when there is not enough oxygen in the air around the flame to complete the combustion reaction, Carbon Monoxide (One Carbon and one Oxygen molecule) is formed instead of the Carbon Dioxide.

Explain why carbon monoxide is poisonous.    Carbon Monoxide has a higher affinity for haemoglobin than Oxygen and bonds more quickly with red blood cells. This results in rapid and intense Oxygen deprivation because the Oxygen is unable to bond with the red blood cells and cannot reach one’s vital organs. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is basically a form of suffocation.

5.9 - I can describe the trend in boiling point and viscosity of the main fractions

a.       What is the trend in boiling point of the fractions?	In the image the boiling point increases from right to left. The fraction with the lowest boiling point is the refinery gases, then gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, fuel oil, and the fraction with the highest boiling point is bitumen.
b.      Define viscosity (source your definition)	The resistance of a fluid to shear or tensile force. Source: Wikipedia.
c.       What is the trend in viscosity of the fractions?	The fraction with the lowest viscosity is the refinery gases, then gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, fuel oil, and bitumen is the most viscous fraction. In the image the viscosity increases from right to left.
d.      What is the trend in colour of the fractions?	The refinery gases are the lightest color (clear) and the fractions get progressively darker as one goes from right to left in the image. Gasoline is darker than the refinery gases; kerosene is darker than gasoline, and so on so forth. Bitumen is the darkest fraction as it is a dark brown or black color.
e.      Why is crude oil separated into fractions?	Crude oil is useless on its own, but when the crude oil mixture is separated into its many different substances, each fraction is very useful. So, in order to allow humans to take full advantage of crude oil, we must separate it into fractions.
f.        What process is used to separate crude oil into fractions?	The process used to separate crude oil into fractions is call Fractional Distillation.
g.       What physical property allows this process to work?	Each different hydrocarbon in crude oil has a different boiling point. Because of the differences in their boiling points, the crude oil can be separated into different fractions via Fractional Distillation.

5.8 - Recall the names and uses of the main fractions obtained from crude oil: refinery gases, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil, and bitumen.

Mnemonic for the Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil

 

Refinery Gases Gasoline Kerosine Diesel Oil Fuel Oil Bitumen

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