3.3.2 Alkanes

Petroleum

a mixture consisting mainly of alkane hydrocarbons that can be separated into different fractions

Order of fractional distillation

gases, gasoline (naphtha), kerosene, diesel oil, lubricating oil and waxes, fuel oil, bitumen

Use of gases

fuel on site

Use of gasoline (naphtha)

cars

Use of kerosene (paraffin)

jet fuel, lighting

Use of diesel oil

lorries, taxis

Use of lubricating oil and waxes

lubricating oil, candles, engine oil

Use of fuel oil

ships, power stations

Use of bitumen/tar

road surfacing, roofing

Cracking

breaking long-chain alkanes into smaller hydrocarbons (which can include alkenes)

Use of kerosene (paraffin)

jet fuel, lighting

Use of diesel oil (gas oil)

lorries, taxis

Use of lubricating oil and waxes (mineral oil)

candles, engine oil

Use of fuel oil

ships, power stations

Use of wax, grease

candles, lubrication

Use of bitumen/tar

road surfacing, roofing

Thermal cracking temperature

900°C

Thermal cracking pressure

70 atm

Thermal cracking catalyst

none

Thermal cracking products

high percentage of alkenes (used to make polymers e.g. poly(ethene))

Catalytic cracking temperature

450C

Catalytic cracking pressure

1-2 atm

Catalytic cracking catalyst

zeolites

Catalytic cracking products

motor fuels (aromatics, cyclic alkanes, branched alkanes) and aromatic hydrocarbons

Complete combustion of propane

C3H8(g) + 5O2(g) --> 3CO2 + 4H2O(l)

Incomplete combustion of propane (2)

CH4(g) + 3/2O2(g) --> CO(g) + 2H2O(l) OR CH4(g) + O2(g) --> C(s) + 2H2O(l)

Free radical

a chemical species with an unpaired electron - usually highly reactive

Free radical substitution reaction

a hydrogen atom is substituted by chlorine or bromine

Flue gas desulfurisation equation

CaO_(s) + SO_2(g) --> CaSO_3(s)

Catalytic converter of nitrous oxide (2)

2NO_(g) --> N_2(g) + O_2(g)

2NO_(g) + 2CO_(g) --> N_2(g) + 2CO_2(g)