Crude Oil

How crude oil was formed

• Microscopic plants and animals die and fall to the sea bed
• Layers of sand and mud form on top
• Pressure and high temperature cause oil to form
• Oil obtained by drilling
 The Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil
Average number of
C atoms in chain
Fraction Boiling pt.

Liquid petroleum gas < 25oC 3

40oC
Petrol (gasoline) 25 – 60oC 8

Naphtha 60 – 180oC 10

Paraffin 180 – 220oC 12

Diesel 220 – 250oC 20

Fuel oil 250 – 300oC 40

Lubricating oil 300 – 350oC 80

350oC
Bitumen > 350oC 120
Heated
Crude
Oil
Properties of the fractions
 The compounds produced by
the distillation of crude oil
are all hydrocarbons.

Hydrocarbons are compounds

which contain the elements
hydrogen and carbon.
Naming hydrocarbons
Alkanes

Methane Ethane Propane

CH4 C2H6 C3H8

These hydrocarbons are said to be saturated.

(They have single bonds between carbon atoms).
Fuels

Most alkanes are used as fuels to produce useful forms

of energy.

When completely burned alkanes form carbon dioxide

and water. This is called complete combustion.

When burnt with a shortage of oxygen then

incomplete combustion occurs. The products are
carbon monoxide water and carbon (soot). This is
really dangerous as carbon monoxide is a poisonous
gas.
 Combustion of hydrocarbons
When burned with sufficient oxygen, hydrocarbons form
carbon dioxide and water