Fractional Distillation

Fractional Distillation

1. Fractional Distillation separates different liquids using their boiling points

2. One substance which is separated using fractional distillation is crude oil

   • Crude oil is a mixture of different hydrocarbons
   • Crude oil is formed millions and millions of years ago where organic matter has decomposed
   • Crude oil is used as a fuel and is drilled from underground
   • Crude oil is a finite resource as it is being drilled for use quicker than it is being formed so it is non-renewable and will eventually run out

3. Crude oil is separated using fractional distillation

   • The crude oil is heated until it all evaporates then it is released into the column
     • In the column the further up it goes the colder it gets so when the crude oil evaporates it rises through the column until it reaches past it boiling point where it then condenses. The higher boiling points will condense first in the column and the lower boiling points will condense near the top
       • Once it condenses the liquid will run off out of the column into it's section of hydrocarbons with similar carbon chains
         • These are then used in different fuels