4.7 Organic Chemistry: o o o o o o

4.
7 Organic Chemistry
Crude oil
Crude oil is a finite resource found in rocks. Crude Crude oil is a mixture of a very large number of
oil is the remains of an ancient biomass consisting compounds. Most of the compounds in crude oil are
mainly of plankton that was buried in mud. hydrocarbons, which are molecules made up of
hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
Alkanes
Most of the hydrocarbons in crude oil are hydrocarbons The general formula for the
called alkanes. Alkanes only contain single covalent homologous series of alkanes is
bonds and are classed as saturated hydrocarbons CnH2n+2
n
Name of (number of Molecular Displayed
Alkane carbons) formula Formula
H
Methane 1 CH4 H C H
H
H H
Ethane 2 C2H6 H C C H
H H
H H H
Propane 3 C3H8 H C C C H
H H H
H H H H
butane 4 C4H10 H C C C C H
H H H H
Physical properties of hydrocarbons

Combustion of Hydrocarbons
Some properties of hydrocarbons depend on the
The combustion of hydrocarbon fuels releases
size of their molecules. These properties influence
energy. During combustion, the carbon and
how hydrocarbons are used as fuels.
hydrogen in the fuels are oxidised.
• Boiling points and viscosity of hydrocarbons
increase as the molecules get bigger (because
The complete combustion of a hydrocarbon
the intermolecular forces become larger as the
produces carbon dioxide and water. (needs a
molecules become bigger)
plentiful supply of air)
• Volatility (how easily a liquid vaporises) and
Flammability of the fuels decrease as the
hydrocarbon + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water
molecules get bigger.
e.g. CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O
Fractional distillation of crude oil - how it works

The many hydrocarbons in crude oil may be separated into fractions, each of which contains
molecules with a similar number of carbon atoms, by fractional distillation.
o Oil is pre-heated then passed into column.
o Some of the oil evaporates
o Vapours rise up the column and cool
o Some vapours condense , separate and flow out the column in a pipe
o Some vapours stay as gases and rise out the top of the column
o Each fraction has a different boiling point and condenses at different levels in the
fractionating column
o The temperature of column decreases upwards
o Boiling point depends on size of molecules.
o Small molecules condense at the top at lower temperatures
o and big molecules condense at the bottom at higher temperatures
1
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fuel gas (bottled)
The fractions can be processed to produce fuels and feedstock 20° C
for the petrochemical industry. Many of the fuels on which we
petrol/gasoline
depend for our modern lifestyle, such as petrol, diesel oil, 40° C
kerosene, heavy fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gases, are
naptha (chemicals)
produced from crude oil. 110° C
kerosene (jet fuel)
Many useful materials on which modern life depends are
180° C
produced by the petrochemical industry, such as solvents, diesel oil
250° C
lubricants, polymers, detergents.
fuel oil
300° C
The vast array of natural and synthetic carbon compounds Furnace
lubricating oils
occur due to the ability of carbon atoms to form families of 340° C
similar compounds.
bitumen
Cracking
Larger hydrocarbons can be broken down (cracked) to Cracking reactions are thermal
produce smaller, more useful molecules. decomposition reactions.
The cracking process involves heating the hydrocarbons

The products of cracking include
to vaporise them.
alkanes and unsaturated
The vapours are either
hydrocarbons called alkenes
• passed over a hot catalyst
• or mixed with steam and heated to a very high
temperature Be able to complete balanced equations
for cracking reactions.
Example:
Uses of cracking products decane  pentane + pentene
• There is a high demand for fuels with small molecules C10 H22  C5H12 + C5H10
and so some of the products of cracking are useful as
fuels.
• Alkenes are used to produce polymers and as starting
materials for the production of many other chemicals.
Alkenes
Alkenes are hydrocarbons with a double carbon-carbon

bond. Alkene molecules are unsaturated because they
contain two fewer hydrogen atoms than the alkane with
the same number of carbon atoms.
Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes. Alkenes react

with bromine water, turning it from orange to colourless.
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4.

Physical properties of hydrocarbons

Fractional distillation of crude oil - how it works

The cracking process involves heating the hydrocarbons

Alkenes are hydrocarbons with a double carbon-carbon

Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes. Alkenes react

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