Separated as fractions with different
boiling points- Fractional Distillation
Can be used as fuels,
or for processing into
petrochemicals
Different strength Van der Waals
forces
Cause the variations in
Boiling Points
Due to
different
carbon chain
lengths and
branching
Saturated Hydrocarbons
Single bond between C
atoms
Have a
tetrahedral
shape around
the carbon
atom
Bond angles of 109.5
Fractional Distillation
1.Crude oil is vaporised and
then passed through a
fractioning column, it is hotter
at the bottom than at the top
2.The gases then pass up
through the column through a
series of bubble caps, they
eventually reach a temperature
that is lower than their boiling
point
3. The vapor then
condenses to a liquid,
the liquid fractions are
then tapped off into
storage containers
Hydrocarbons as fuels
Catalytic Cracking
Uses to break larger
carbon chains which have
low demand into smaller
chains which have a high
demand
For example:Paraffin (decane)
into petrol (octane) and ethene
It is carried out by heating the large
hydrocarbon, with a porcelein catalyst, the
vapor produced then condenses into a
smaller hydrocarbon (alkane) and an alkene
Environmental Issues
Crude oil is non-renewable
Problems caused by CO2
emissions from burning fossil
fuels
Global Warming
Bio-diesels being produced,
Made from Rapeseed
or Alcohol by
fermenting sugars
Reforming
Aliphatic (straight chains)
chains are turned into
cyclic alkanes
This process is carried out
because cyclic chains make
fuel burn more efiiciently
Isomerisation
Un-branched alkanes
(straight chained) are
converted into branched
alkanes
For example:
Hexane-
2,3-dimethylbutane
This promotes efficient combustion
Substitution Reactions
Using UV radiation, by
Cl2 and Br2, to form
halogenoalkanes