GCSE Combined Science (AQA)

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Crude Oil Fractional Distillation

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Organic chemistry Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock

Crude Oil Fractional Distillation

5:09 Fractional Distillation and Crude Oil Fractions
Spec 4.7.1.2
Previous Crude Oil Next Crude Oil Fractions and Uses
  • Crude oil is a mixture of different hydrocarbons.
  • Hydrocarbons are molecules made of carbon and hydrogen.
  • Crude oil contains both small and large hydrocarbon molecules.
  • As hydrocarbon size increases, their boiling point increases.
  • Fractional distillation is used to separate crude oil into fractions.
  • Fractions contain molecules with a similar number of carbon atoms.
  • Molecules in a fraction have similar properties and uses due to similar sizes and boiling points.
  • Fractional distillation involves heating crude oil and using a fractionating column.
  • The temperature in the column decreases with height.
  • Heated crude oil enters the bottom of the column, evaporates, and rises.
  • Hydrocarbons condense back into liquid at their boiling point and are collected.
  • Smaller hydrocarbons have lower boiling points and condense higher up the column.
  • Larger hydrocarbons are collected at the bottom of the column.
  • Bitumen is a mixture of large hydrocarbons collected at the bottom.
  • Larger hydrocarbons are used for heavy fuel oil and diesel.
  • Smaller hydrocarbons are used for kerosene and petrol.
  • The smallest hydrocarbons are extracted as gases and stored as liquified petroleum gases.
  • Knowledge of the names of these products is required for exams.

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