How Fractional Distillation Separates Crude Oil into Useful Fractions

🔍Crude oil is a valuable resource that contains a mixture of hydrocarbons with different chain lengths.

⚗️The process of fractional distillation involves heating crude oil and separating its components based on their boiling points.

🌡️Molecules with shorter chains have lower boiling points and condense at higher levels in the fractionating column.

⬇️Molecules with longer chains have higher boiling points and condense at lower levels in the fractionating column.

💧Each fraction collected has different industrial applications, such as fuel, chemicals, and road materials.

What is crude oil?

—Crude oil is unprocessed oil that is directly extracted from the ground, and it contains a mixture of hydrocarbons.

What is the purpose of fractional distillation?

—The purpose of fractional distillation is to separate crude oil into different fractions with similar boiling points for various industrial uses.

How does the temperature gradient work in the fractionating column?

—The fractionating column has a high temperature at the bottom and gradually becomes cooler as you move up. This temperature gradient helps separate the different components of crude oil.

What happens to molecules with shorter chains during fractional distillation?

—Molecules with shorter chains have lower boiling points and condense at higher levels in the fractionating column.

What are some examples of fractions obtained from crude oil?

—Some examples of fractions obtained from crude oil include petrol, naphtha, kerosene, diesel oil, and pitchman.

00:04Crude oil is a valuable resource that contains a mixture of hydrocarbons with different chain lengths.

01:32Fractional distillation involves heating crude oil and separating its components based on their boiling points.

02:22Molecules with shorter chains have lower boiling points and condense at higher levels in the fractionating column.

03:23Molecules with longer chains have higher boiling points and condense at lower levels in the fractionating column.

03:59Each fraction collected has different industrial applications, such as fuel, chemicals, and road materials.