AQA · GCSE · Combined Science
Course version: 8464 · Version from Sept 2018
Fractional distillation and petrochemicals: The fractions can be processed to produce fuels and feedstock for the petrochemical industry.
Fractions obtained from crude oil are not wasted; they are processed to make useful products.
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Fractions obtained from crude oil are not wasted; they are processed to make useful products. Many fractions are used directly as fuels, such as petrol for cars, diesel for lorries and kerosene for aircraft. Other fractions are used as feedstock, meaning they are starting materials for the petrochemical industry. Feedstock molecules can be cracked to produce smaller, more reactive alkenes such as ethene. These alkenes are then used to make polymers, solvents, lubricants and detergents. Processing therefore links the separation of crude oil to the manufacture of everyday materials, and it also helps match supply to demand because some fractions are more useful than others.
What earns the marks
- Fractions from crude oil can be used directly as fuels, for example petrol, diesel and kerosene.
- Fractions can also be used as feedstock, which means starting materials for the petrochemical industry.
- Cracking converts larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful molecules, including alkenes.
- Alkenes produced by cracking are used to make polymers, solvents, lubricants and detergents.
- Processing helps match the supply of fractions to demand for particular fuels and chemicals.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing fuel and feedstock.
Put it right by stating that fuels are burned for energy while feedstock is a raw material for making other chemicals.
Thinking all fractions are burned as fuels.
Put it right by explaining that some fractions are processed into petrochemical products.
Believing cracking is a separation method.
Put it right by stating that cracking is a chemical reaction that breaks larger molecules into smaller ones.
Exam tips
- Give named examples of fuels from fractions, such as petrol, diesel or kerosene, to support your answer.
- Define feedstock clearly as a starting material for the petrochemical industry.
- Link cracking to the production of alkenes such as ethene, then link alkenes to polymers.
Try the lesson
The start of the Fractional distillation and petrochemicals: The fractions can be processed to produce fuels and feedstock for the petrochemical industry. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Crude oil fractions can be processed to produce feedstock for the petrochemical industry. What is feedstock used for?
Listen
Fractions obtained from crude oil are not wasted; they are processed to make useful products. Many fractions are used directly as fuels, such as petrol for cars, diesel for lorries and kerosene for aircraft. Other fractions are used as feedstock, meaning they are starting materials for the petrochemical industry. Feedstock molecules can be cracked to produce smaller, more reactive alkenes such as ethene. These alkenes are then used to make polymers, solvents, lubricants and detergents. Processing therefore links the separation of crude oil to the manufacture of everyday materials, and it also helps match supply to demand because some fractions are more useful than others. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Fractions from crude oil can be used directly as fuels, for example petrol, diesel and kerosene. Fractions can also be used as feedstock, which means starting materials for the petrochemical industry. Cracking converts larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful molecules, including alkenes. Alkenes produced by cracking are used to make polymers, solvents, lubricants and detergents. A common slip: Confusing fuel and feedstock. Instead, stating that fuels are burned for energy while feedstock is a raw material for making other chemicals. Exam tip: Give named examples of fuels from fractions, such as petrol, diesel or kerosene, to support your answer.
See it
Key words
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Fuels from crude oil
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Feedstock and the petrochemical industry
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Cracking and alkenes
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Polymers and everyday materials
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See every definition
- Fuels from crude oil
- Fractions from crude oil can be used directly as fuels, for example petrol, diesel and kerosene.
- Feedstock and the petrochemical industry
- Starting materials for the petrochemical industry, which can be processed from fractions of crude oil.
- Cracking and alkenes
- A chemical reaction that converts larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful molecules, including alkenes such as ethene.
- Polymers and everyday materials
- Alkenes produced by cracking are used to make polymers, solvents, lubricants and detergents, linking crude oil to everyday materials.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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