Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons.
Fractional distillation of crude oil and catalytic cracking of long-chain hydrocarbons are critical processes in petroleum refining.
Which physical property is the primary basis for separating the different fractions of crude oil in a fractionating column?
The main fractions obtained from crude oil include:
Give one major use for kerosene.
Give one major use for diesel oil.
State which of the fractions listed above has the highest viscosity.
Catalytic cracking is used to break down long-chain alkanes into more valuable shorter-chain alkanes and alkenes.
Name the catalyst used in industrial cracking.
State the approximate temperature range used in industrial cracking.
Decane (C10H22\text{C}_{10}\text{H}_{22}C10H22) can be cracked to produce ethene (C2H4\text{C}_2\text{H}_4C2H4) and only one other hydrocarbon.
Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction.
Draw the displayed formula of ethene (C2H4\text{C}_2\text{H}_4C2H4).
Name the polymer formed from ethene.
Explain why this polymer is difficult to dispose of by landfill.
19 exam-style questions on Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry Crude oil. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.