Chemistry of Crude Oil and Hydrocarbons

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of fractional distillation in the context of crude oil?

To reduce the viscosity of crude oil

To convert crude oil into biomass

To separate crude oil into usable fractions (correct)

To refine water from oil

Which of the following best describes hydrocarbons?

Compounds containing only carbon atoms

Compounds made of hydrogen and carbon only (correct)

Compounds containing hydrogen and oxygen

Compounds made of nitrogen and hydrogen

What characterizes the homologous series in organic chemistry?

A series with decreasing boiling points

A collection of compounds made of nitrogen

A family of compounds with the same general formula (correct)

A group of compounds with no similar properties

In fractional distillation, what happens to the vapors of crude oil as they rise up the column?

They condense at different levels based on boiling points Signup and view all the answers

What does viscosity refer to in the context of liquids?

The ability of a liquid to flow Signup and view all the answers

What functional group is characteristic of alcohols?

-O-H Signup and view all the answers

Which reaction describes the conversion of glucose to ethanol?

Fermentation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of alkenes?

They contain a carbon-carbon double bond. Signup and view all the answers

What is produced when a carboxylic acid reacts with carbonates?

Carbon dioxide Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following explains why alcohols are considered good fuels?

They have very little incomplete combustion. Signup and view all the answers

How can ethanol produced by fermentation be separated from the mixture?

Using fractional distillation Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about carboxylic acids is true?

They have a functional group of -COOH. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the combustion of alkenes?

It results in significant incomplete combustion. Signup and view all the answers

What process involves breaking down long hydrocarbon chains into shorter, more useful chains?

Catalytic cracking Signup and view all the answers

Which statement describes complete combustion of hydrocarbons?

It requires excess oxygen and produces carbon dioxide and water. Signup and view all the answers

What is the general formula for alkanes?

CnH2n+2 Signup and view all the answers

What is formed during incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons?

Water and carbon monoxide or soot Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly identifies a characteristic of alkenes?

Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons. Signup and view all the answers

Why do boiling points of alkanes increase with chain length?

Due to increased intermolecular forces. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of incomplete combustion?

It generates toxic carbon monoxide. Signup and view all the answers

Which functional group characterizes alkenes?

C=C double bond Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Crude Oil

Finite resource
Formed from ancient biomass, mainly plankton buried in mud
Mixture of hydrocarbons
Separated into fractions by fractional distillation
Used as fuels or feedstock for the chemical industry

Fractional distillation

Vapourised crude oil passed into the bottom of a column
Vapours rise up the column cooling and condensing
Hydrocarbons with different boiling points condense at different levels

Cracking

Long hydrocarbon chains are broken into shorter chains
Makes more useful products
Catalytic cracking – high temperature + catalyst
Steam cracking – high temperature + steam

Alkanes

Saturated hydrocarbons
General formula: CnH2n+2
Boiling point increases as the length of the chain increases

Alkenes

Unsaturated hydrocarbons
Contain a carbon-carbon double bond
General formula: CnH2n
Decolourise bromine water

Combustion of hydrocarbons

Complete combustion – excess oxygen – carbon dioxide and water formed
Incomplete combustion – limited oxygen – carbon monoxide and/or carbon formed

Alcohols

Functional group: -OH
Made by fermentation of glucose (sugar)
Conditions: warm + anaerobic (no oxygen)

Carboxylic acids

Weak acids
Functional group -COOH
Only slightly dissociated in water

### Reactions of carboxylic acids

React with carbonates to produce effervescence (bubbling) and carbon dioxide.
React with alcohols to produce esters.

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of crude oil, its formation from ancient biomass, and the processes involved in extracting useful products. This quiz covers fractional distillation, cracking, and the properties of alkanes and alkenes. Test your knowledge of hydrocarbons and their combustion processes.