fractional distillation of crude oil

what is crude oil

a mixture of hydrocarbons that have been dug out of the ground

describe the method used to fractionally distill crude oil

1. heat mixture so that it boils

2. forms vapour, vapour rises into columns

3. vapours cool down as they rise

4. different components condense at its boiling point so it can be collected

hydrocarbons in crude oil have different properties. which of these propeties does separation by fractional distillation depend on

depends on different hydrocarbons having different boiling points

are the fractions pure substances or mixtures

mixtures as each fraction still contains many different hydrocarbons with similar boiling points, not just a single compound

what is a ‘fraction’

the groups of hydrocarbons that are separated during fractional distillation