Uses and cracking of crude oil

• What has crude oil fueled in modern civilization?

  Modern civilization
• Why would the world be different without oil?

  It has fueled modern civilization
• What are the main uses of crude oil in modern life?

  • Fuel for transport (cars, trains, planes)
  • Feedstock for petrochemical industry
  • Source of organic compounds
• What fuels come from crude oil?

  Diesel oil, kerosene, petrol, fuel oil, LPG
• How does the petrochemical industry utilize crude oil?

  As a feedstock to make various compounds
• What are organic compounds derived from crude oil primarily composed of?

  Carbon atoms
• What allows for the variety of products from crude oil?

  Carbon atoms can form functional groups
• What is cracking in the context of hydrocarbons?

  • Splitting up long-chain hydrocarbons
  • Produces smaller, useful molecules
  • Involves thermal decomposition
• Why are straight-chain hydrocarbons in high demand?

  They are flammable and make good fuels
• What happens to long-chain hydrocarbons during fractional distillation?

  They are turned into smaller molecules
• What type of hydrocarbons does cracking produce besides alkanes?

  Alkenes
• What are alkenes used for in the chemical industry?

  Starting materials for making compounds
• What are some useful products of cracking?

  Petrol and paraffin
• What is the process of cracking in terms of chemical reactions?

  • Thermal decomposition reaction
  • Heating long-chain hydrocarbons
  • Producing smaller hydrocarbons
• What is the first step in the cracking process?

  Heat long-chain hydrocarbons to vaporize
• What is used as a catalyst in catalytic cracking?

  Powdered aluminium oxide
• How do long-chain molecules split apart in catalytic cracking?

  On the surface of the catalyst
• What is steam cracking?

  Mixing hydrocarbons with steam and heating
• How do you balance chemical equations for cracking?

  • Ensure equal carbon atoms on both sides
  • Ensure equal hydrogen atoms on both sides
• Why is cracking important in the oil industry?

  • Maximizes useful products from crude oil
  • Converts less useful long-chain hydrocarbons
• What does cracking help achieve in the oil industry?

  Get as many useful products as possible
• What is the main focus of organic chemistry in this context?

  • Study of hydrocarbons and their reactions
  • Understanding the properties of organic compounds
• What type of hydrocarbons are most useful in industry?

  Smaller molecules