When crude oil is distilled using fractional distillation, 4 different pure liquids were obtained. State the main factor in the crude oil mixture that allows the 4 liquids to be separated from one another.Read Lessdifference in their densitydifference in their coloursdifference in their boiling pintsdifference in their volumes
Question
When crude oil is distilled using fractional distillation, 4 different pure liquids were obtained. State the main factor in the crude oil mixture that allows the 4 liquids to be separated from one another.Read Lessdifference in their densitydifference in their coloursdifference in their boiling pintsdifference in their volumes
Solution
The main factor in the crude oil mixture that allows the 4 liquids to be separated from one another is the difference in their boiling points.
Here's why:
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Crude oil is a mixture of different hydrocarbons, each with different sizes and structures.
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These different hydrocarbons have different boiling points. The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from liquid to gas.
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In the process of fractional distillation, the crude oil is heated until it vaporizes.
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The vapor then rises up the distillation column. The column is cooler at the top and hotter at the bottom.
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As the vapor rises, it cools. When a hydrocarbon in the vapor reaches a height where the temperature is equal to its boiling point, it condenses back into a liquid.
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This liquid is then collected. Because different hydrocarbons have different boiling points, they condense at different heights in the column, effectively separating the crude oil into its components.
So, the difference in boiling points is the key factor that allows the separation of different liquids from the crude oil mixture.
Similar Questions
Briefly explain the process of fractional distillation to separate a mixture of the liquids methanol, ethanol and propanol.
State the three stages of fractional distillation.
Which of the following statements about the process of fractional distillation is not correct? The temperature decreases going up the columnCrude oil is fed in near the bottom of the column as hot vapourThe different fractions condense into liquids when they reach the temperature of their boiling pointsThe fractions collected at the top contain hydrocarbons with the longest molecules
n the fractional distillation of crude oil, where is the hottest part of the fractionating column?*1 pointThe topThe middleThe bottomAny of the above
Which of the following statements is incorrect about fractional distillation?Lighter fractions have lower boiling points - they evaporate first and rise to the top of the column.Fractional distillation is used to separate a mixture of liquids with different boiling points.Heavier fractions have higher boiling points - they evaporate later and sink to the bottom of the column.Fractional distillation is often used to purify water from a solution.
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