Crude Oil (Edexcel GCSE Chemistry)

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Crude Oil

Mixture of Hydrocarbons

  • Crude oil is a complex mixture of lots of different hydrocarbon compounds of different sizes
  • Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon atoms only
  • It is a thick, sticky, black liquid that is found in porous rock (under the ground and under the sea)

Crude-oil-under-the-sea, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Diagram showing crude oil under the sea

Chains & Rings

  • The hydrocarbon molecules in crude oil consist of a carbon backbone which can be in a ring or chain, with hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms
  • The mixture contains molecules with many different ring sizes and chain lengths

Composition of Crude Oil, Edexcel GCSE Chemistry

Crude oil is a mixture containing different sized hydrocarbon molecules

Useful Substances

  • Crude oil is the main source of hydrocarbons which are used for producing fuels such as petrol and diesel.
  • It is also a main source of raw materials (called feedstock) for the petrochemical industry

Finite Resource

  • Crude oil formed over millions of years from the effects of high pressures and temperatures on the remains of plants and animals
  • Since it is being used up much faster than it is being formed crude oil is a finite resource
  • The petrochemical industry is hugely important for modern society and development
  • The fuels that are used in most modern methods of transport (cars, trains, airplanes etc.) are all based on oil products
  • Polymers, lubricants, solvents, detergents and adhesives are all products that are obtained from crude oil

 

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Stewart

Author: Stewart

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.