Crude Oils and Fuels

Crude Oils and Fuels

1. Crude Oil

   • mixture of very large number of compounds that come from reserves in the ground

2. Mixture

   • two or more elements or compounds that are not chemically joined together

3. Hydrocarbon

   • molecule made of hydrogen and carbon atoms only

4. Saturated

   • When a hydrocarbon contains as many hydrogen atoms as possible (no double bonds)

5. Fuel

   • Compounds that are burnt to produce heat energy

6. Impurities in fuel

   • Fuels can have the following impurities in fuel: Sulfur, carbon and/or hydrogen

7. Fractional

   • Fractional distillation
     • A method of separating the different hydrocarbons in crude oil by using the fact that they different boiling points
       • hydrocarbons with high boiling points condense first
         • hydrocarbons with low boiling points condense higher up the column
   • Mixture of molecules that will be of similar sized and similar boiling point

8. Volatility

   • Tendency of a liquid to turn into a gas
     • Smaller hydrocarbons will be more volatile
       • Larger hydrocarbons will be less volatle

9. Viscosity

   • How easily a liquid flows
     • Smaller hydrocarbons will be less viscous
       • Larger hydrocarbons will be more viscous

10. Flammability

    • How easily a fuel burns
      • Smaller hydrocarbons will be more flammable
        • Larger hydrocarbons will be less flammable

11. Combustion

    • When a hydrocarbon fuel is oxidised and energy is released.
      • The carbon and hydrogen are oxidised -> carbon dioxide + water
    • Wet scrubbing
      • Removing sulfur dioxide after combustion from flue gases in powerstations chimney - reduces production of acid rain

12. Acid rain

    • When sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide dissolve in droplets of water in the air and react with oxygen and then fall as acid rain

13. Global warming

    • When carbon dioxide absorbs energy which is radiated from the earth's surface and causes a rise in global temperatures

14. Biofuels

    • Renewable fuels that are made from animals or plant products

15. Biodiesel

    • Biofuel made from oils extracted from plants