natural sources of hydrocarbons • List the main uses of at least three fractions obtained from the fractional distillation of petroleum • Describe the cracking of petroleum fractions Chapter 17 Sources of Carbon Compounds Fossil Fuels • A fuel is a substance which can undergo combustion in air or oxygen to liberate useful heat energy. • Fuels include substances such as wood, charcoal, biomass fuel and fossil fuels. • Fossil fuels (e.g. Coals, petroleum and natural gas) are formed from the remains of animals and plants which died millions of years ago. • Due to high pressure and temperature, the remains of the dead plants slowly turned into a solid black substance called coal. • Coal is considered to be a dirty fuel because it produces air pollution when burned. Chapter 17 Sources of Carbon Compounds Natural Gas • Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons. • Hydrocarbons are compounds consisting of hydrogen and carbon only. • Natural gas is considered a clean fuel because its has a high energy value when burned and it emits lower levels of harmful air pollutants into the air. • Combustion of methane is:
CH4(g) + 2O2(g) CO2(g) + 2H2O(I)
Chapter 17 Sources of Carbon Compounds Fractional Distillation of Petroleum • Petroleum or crude oil is a black sticky liquid made of a mixture of many hydrocarbons with molecules ranging from one carbon atom to over 100 carbon atoms. • The smaller molecules are lighter and have lower boiling points compared to the larger molecules. • Petroleum is refined by separating the complex mixture into simpler mixtures called fractions before it can be used. • This separation can carried out in the oil refinery using fractional distillation. Chapter 17 Sources of Carbon Compounds Fractional Distillation Chapter 17 Sources of Carbon Compounds Cracking of hydrocarbons • Due to the rapid economic development of many countries, there is an increasing demand for the lighter fractions like petrol and naphtha, rather than lubricating oil and fuel oil. • Hence, there is a need to convert the heavier and less useful fractions into the more useful fractions. • This can be achieved through cracking. • Cracking is the process of breaking large petroleum molecules into smaller molecules with the use of heat and catalyst. • Types of cracking include: thermal cracking, catalytic cracking and hydrocracking which are geared towards producing specific products needed by the industry. Chapter 17 Sources of Carbon Compounds Problems and issues caused by fossil fuels
• Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy resources.
• The quantity of fossil fuels in the Earth is finite and they cannot be replaced once they are used up. • Coal is an unclean fuel producing much pollution which is harmful to our environment. • Therefore many countries have begun using cleaner fuel and catalytic converters in cars, and developing better and more efficient techniques of combustion to help reduce the problems. • This has led to a greater demand for clean fuels which means that the price of oil has risen rapidly. Chapter 17 Sources of Carbon Compounds Alternative Energy Resources • Alternative resources include the use of solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy and hydroelectric power.
• Another possible source of renewable energy will
come from plants. E.g. Palm oil is blended with diesel to run cars.
• Lastly, scientists are experimenting with another
type of renewable fuel called biodiesel which can be made from algae. Chapter 17 Sources of Carbon Compounds