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I/GCSE Chemistry- Fractional Distillation

Oil

August 21, 2021

This I/GCSE Chemistry blog post will be looking at the processes of fractionl distillation, let's go!

Fractional Distillation

Oil is a mixture of hundreds of hydrocarbons. This mixture has to be separated into its useful 

components using fractional distillation. Very hot crude oil is pumped into the fractionating column

where the hydrocarbons separate out by their boiling points, rising through the column until they get 

cold enough to condense. The compounds that condense at a particular temperature are called a 

FRACTION.

As you move down the column, the fractions have longer carbon chains. This increases the attractive forces  between molecules which leads to:

Higher boiling points

•Higher viscosity

•Lower flammability

Fuel Gas – used for fuel, and to make other chemicals

Naptha – used mostly to make other useful compounds

Kerosene – fuel for aeroplanes

Fuel oil – fuel for large ships

Bitumen – used to surface roads

That is all!

References:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Ffigure%2FSeperation-of-fractional-distillation_fig1_318053910&psig=AOvVaw2QRzxHwLPefo_8Rf4luBTU&ust=1629651133366000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCKCsnNnJwvICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD