Unit 1 Chemistry AOS 3 Crude Oil Research Task

What fuels and other chemicals are derived from crude oil? How is crude oil processed to
obtain them?

Introduction
Crude Oil also known as a fossil fuel is a mixture of a large number of compounds and is formed from
the remains of animals and plants that died millions of years ago, it can be found trapped in some of
the sedimentary rocks of the Earth’s crust. Most of the compounds in crude oil consists of molecules
made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms known as hydrocarbon molecules, these are chain molecules
of varying length that are made from hydrogen and carbon atoms only. An example of a hydrocarbon
molecule is ethane, that can be represented with the chemical formula C2H6. Crude Oil has many
different derived chemicals and fuels and is refined by the petrochemical industry using fractional
distillation, where the hydrocarbons are separated into fractions of similar size. These fractions
include fuels such as petrol and diesel for chemical synthesis. Most of the fractions from crude oil are
burned as fuel while only a small percentage of crude oil is used for chemical synthesis.

Fractional Distillation
This is method used to derive the different fuels and chemicals in crude oil and differs from regular
distillation as it separates a mixture into different parts called fraction. A tall column is fitted above
the mixture with several condensers coming off at different heights. The column is hot at the bottom
and cool at the top so that substances with high boiling points condense at the bottom while substance
with low boiling points condense at the top. Like distillation, fractional distillation works because the
different substances in the mixture have different
boiling points. When crude oil enters the column
it is evaporated so its vapours can condense at
different temperatures in the fractioning column.
Some of the properties of the small molecules is
that they have a low boiling point, very volatile,
flows easily and ignites easily where as the large
molecules at the bottom of the pillar have high
boiling points, are not very volatile, do not flow
easily and do not ignite easily. Although
fractional distillation is a very effective method
(2015) Fractionating Tower Image – Martini Kunj
in deriving the different fuels and chemicals from
crude oil it is very expensive due to the large https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-functions-of-the-fractionating-column
required structures, heavy duty materials, and
specialised machinery as well as requiring fully
trained staff to be able to operate the column. It also
comes with operational hazards as it uses the process of heat and explosions can occur, and also by
refining crude oil can lead to large amounts of harmful chemicals being released into the atmosphere.

Fuels and Chemicals Derived from Crude Oil

 Unit 1 Chemistry AOS 3 Crude Oil Research Task

 Petroleum Gas - has several liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons including propene (C 3H6), propane
(C3H8), butene (C4H8) and butane (C4H10). It boils at round 231K and is used as fuel for heating
appliances, cooking equipment and vehicles.
 Naphtha - is a highly flammable and is used in many industries as a solvent. It contains a large
amount of chemical energy as it can create 3.14 mega joules of energy per litre, it is sold in
mainly camping stores as lighters as it burns relatively cleanly. Light naphtha is the fraction
boiling between 30 °C and 90 °C and consists of molecules with 5–6 carbon atoms. Heavy
naphtha boils between 90 °C and 200 °C and consists of molecules with 6–12 carbon atoms.
 Gasoline - Gasoline is a mixture of hundreds of different hydrocarbons. Most contain 4 to
12 carbon atoms per molecule. Gasoline is used in vehicles and boils between 30° and 200° C. It
is also used as a solvent for oils and fats.
 Kerosene - has several different chemical compositions depending on its source but usually
consists of about 10 different hydrocarbons each containing 10 to 16 carbon atoms per molecule.
It will produce a flammable vapour at around 38°C, this makes kerosene a relatively safe fuel to
store and handle. It has a boiling point between 150°C and 300°C. Kerosene is still used as
heating and cooking fuel as well as for lamps. Also jet fuel is made up of high-quality kerosene
for planes.
 Diesel - it can contain between 12 to 20 carbon atoms, Similar to Naphthenes, a ring like structure
is created, but they are joined by double bonds, instead of single bonds. Diesel is commonly used
for vehicles as the vehicles are able to travel for longer periods of time compared to regular petrol.
Diesel has a boiling point ranging between 180°C and 360°C.
 Bitumen - is also commonly know as asphalt and is a semi-solid form of petroleum. It has a
boiling point that is greater than 600°C. It contains greater than 26 carbon atoms per molecule. It
is used for paving, roads and roofing.

Conclusion
From the research conducted we were able to identify that fractional distillation is the method used to
obtain various fuels and chemicals from crude oil. Fractional Distillation is able to separate the
different sized molecules from large at the bottom of the fractional column to small at the top at
different condensing temperatures. We also found out that Fractional Distillation has no implications
but refining crude oil does as it releases harmful chemicals that impact the environment.

References
(2011) What is Crude Oil? – Revision World
https://revisionworld.com/gcse-revision/chemistry/carbon-compounds/what-crude-oil
(2010) Making crude oil useful – British Broadcasting Corporation
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway_pre_2011/carbon_chem/4_crude_oil
1.shtml
(2010) Useful chemicals from crude oil – British Broadcasting Corporation
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/21c_pre_2011/materials/chemicalscrudeoilrev2.shtml
(2016) Crude Oil as a source of Raw Material – Heinemann Chemistry 1 5 th Edition, pg. 192,193
www.pearsonplaces.com.au/Places/Secondary_Places/Science_Place/Science_Companion_Websites/
Hein_Chemistry_1_SPL.aspx

2
 Unit 1 Chemistry AOS 3 Crude Oil Research Task

(2016) Six Advantages and Disadvantages of Fractional Distillation - Connect US

https://connectusfund.org/6-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-fractional-distillation
(2013) Liquefied Petroleum Gas - Editors of Encyclopaedia of Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/science/liquefied-petroleum-gas
(2007) Naphtha - Editors of Encyclopaedia of Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/science/naphtha
(2018) Naphtha Uses - Sciencing Doug Johnson
https://sciencing.com/naphtha-uses-7665916.html
(2017) Gasoline - Editors of Encyclopaedia of Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/technology/gasoline-fuel
(2016) Kerosene - Editors of Encyclopaedia of Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/science/kerosene
(Unknown) The Chemistry of Diesel Fuel - Chemistry is Life
http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-dies