Products From Oil

Products From Oil

1. Fractions

   • Cracking: Breaking down of a long chain hydrocarbon into smaller, more useful hydrocarbons
     • This is done by Heating the hydrocarbon until it vaporises then passing it over a heated catalyst
     • There is higher demand for shorter hydrocarbons
     • The products of cracking are a Short Chain Alkane (fuel) and a Short Chain Alkene (for polymers)

2. Polymerisation

   • Alkenes & Alkanes
     • When added to bromine: Alkanes have no change, Alkenes decolourise
       • This is because Alkanes are saturated
     • Ethanol can be produced in two main ways:
       • Fermentation: Sugar is left to ferment, with a yeast catalyst, to produce Carbon Dioxide and Ethanol. (The product is impure)
       • Industrial Production: React ethene with steam
         • Ethene + Water > Ethanol
       • Ethanol: C(2)H(5)OH
     • Alkenes are the starting materials for polymers
   • Polymerisation: Many small, identical Alkenes (monomers) are joined together to form a long chain Alkane (polymer)
   • Plastics can be distinguished into two groups
     • Thermosetting plastics
       • only soften once
         • chains are fixed in position by the strong bonds between them (cross-linkages)
         • When heated, strong bonds are formed between the chains which prevent them from being melted again.
       • e.g. Bakelite
     • Thermosoftening plastics
       • soften easily and can be remoulded if heated
       • weak forces of attraction between the polymer chains
       • strong forces of attraction within each chain
       • e.g. Polyethene
   • Uses an Problems of Plastics
     • Suitable for storing food because they are unreactive
     • Difficult to dispose of
       • do not biodegrade easily
       • litter goes to landfill
       • Cornstarch can be added to plastics to make them break down faster
     • Polymers can be recycled
       • reduces amount going to landfill
       • different polymers must be seperated
     • Polymers can be recycled
       • emits harmful gasses into the environment

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