Fractional distillation of crude oil
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how crude oil can be separated into fractions using fractional distillation, and describe the differences in properties between fractions.
Key learning points
- Crude oil is a non-renewable mixture of different hydrocarbons and impurities.
- Crude oil can be separated into groups of hydrocarbon molecules of similar size, called fractions.
- Most of the hydrocarbon molecules in crude oil are alkanes.
- Smaller hydrocarbon molecules have lower boiling points, are more flammable, and are less viscous.
- Fractions of crude oil include petroleum gases, petrol, kerosene, diesel oil, heavy fuel oil, and bitumen.
Keywords
Crude oil - Crude oil is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years from dead plankton. It is a mixture of different hydrocarbons and impurities.
Hydrocarbon - Hydrocarbons are covalent compounds containing hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
Viscosity - Viscosity is how easily a liquid flows. The higher the viscosity, the less easily a liquid flows.
Fractional distillation - Fractional distillation is a method used to separate miscible fluids (liquids or gases) with different boiling points into individual components (fractions).
Fraction - A fraction is a part of a mixture that has been separated by fractional distillation.
Common misconception
Some students may think that fractional distillation produces new substances from crude oil.
It is important to emphasise that crude oil is a mixture, and the process of fractional distillation is to separate out the different hydrocarbons based on their boiling points.
Teacher tip
Students could perform a class practical of fractional distillation using a crude oil substitute. They can collect different fractions and test them for viscosity and flammability. It is essential to complete your own risk assessment for this practical.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which elements are hydrocarbons composed of?
Q2.Why is crude oil considered a non-renewable resource?
Q3.What key term is used to describe the temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid state to a gas state?
Q4.Order these statements to explain how crude oil is formed.
Q5.Why is complete combustion preferred over incomplete combustion?
Q6.Match the definition with the correct key term.
how easily a liquid flows
the ease with which a substance will ignite
a separation technique that uses boiling and condensation
a part of a mixture that has been separated by fractional distillation
saturated hydrocarbons
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is crude oil primarily composed of?
Q2.What is the name of the method used to separate miscible fluids (liquids or gases) with different boiling points into individual components?
Q3.What is the purpose of the fractionating column in fractional distillation?
Q4.In fractional distillation of crude oil, which of the following fractions has the lowest boiling point?
Q5.Which of the following statement about the separation of components in fractional distillation is true?
Q6.Which statement about smaller hydrocarbon molecules is true?
To help you plan your 11 chemistry lesson on: Fractional distillation of crude oil, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 chemistry lesson on: Fractional distillation of crude oil, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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