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WHAT IS PETROLEUM?

Petroleum
Petroleum is a mixture of several different hydrocarbons;
the most commonly found molecules are alkanes (linear
or branched), cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, or
more complicated chemicals like asphaltenes. Each
petroleum variety has a unique mix of molecules
which defines its physical and chemical properties,
like colour and viscosity.

The alkanes, also known as paraffins, are saturated

hydrocarbons with straight or branched chains which
contain only carbon and hydrogen and have the
general formula CnH2n+2. They generally have from 5 to
40 carbon atoms per molecule, although trace amounts
Arial photograph of Sasolburg of shorter or longer molecules may be present in the
mixture.

Two representations of octane, a hydrocarbon The alkanes from pentane (C5H12) to octane (C8H18)
found in petroleum are refined into petrol; the ones from nonane (C9H20)
to hexadecane (C16H34) into diesel fuel and kerosene
(primary component of many types of jet fuel); and
the ones from hexadecane upwards into fuel oil and
lubricating oil. At the heavier end of the range, paraffin
wax is an alkane with approximately 25 carbon atoms,
while asphalt has 35 carbon atoms or more. These are
usually cracked (split) by modern refineries into more
valuable products.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
The shortest molecules, those with four or fewer carbon
A diagram of crude oil distillation atoms, are in a gaseous state at room temperature.
as They are the petroleum gases.

20C
Depending on demand and the cost of recovery, these
gases are either flared off, sold as liquefied petroleum
gas under pressure, or used to power the refinery's
10C
own burners. During the winter, butane (C4H10) is
asoline blended into the gasoline pool in large quantities
200C Petrol
because butane's high vapour pressure assists with
Kerosene
cold starts. Liquefied at pressures slightly above
300C atmospheric, butane is best known for powering
cigarette lighters, but it is also a main fuel source in
Crude Oil Diesel Oil many developing countries. Propane can be liquefied
30C
under modest pressure and is consumed in just about
every application relying on petroleum for energy, from
Fuel Oil cooking to heating to transportation.

00C

Lubricating Oil,,
Paraffin Wax A ball and stick model of hexadecane
Asphalt
Furnace Source: Wikimedia Commons

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Petroleum chemistry
The cycloalkanes, also known as naphthenes, are
saturated hydrocarbons which have one or more
carbon rings to which hydrogen atoms are attached
according to the formula CnH2n. Cycloalkanes have
similar properties to alkanes but have higher boiling
points.

   
  
 
    
 
   
    

Different representations of cyclohexane

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The aromatic hydrocarbons are unsaturated

hydrocarbons which have one or more planar six-
carbon rings called benzene rings, to which hydrogen Oil rig
atoms are attached with the formula CnHn. They tend Source: Petroleum Agency of South Africa
to burn with a sooty flame and many have a sweet
aroma. Some are carcinogenic (causes cancer).
Benzene, C6H6, is also known as benzol or cyclohexa-
1,3,5-triene.

 DID YOU KNOW?

  
 
Photochemical smog is air pollution produced
 
   by the action of light on oxygen, nitrogen
 oxides and unburned fuel from car exhausts to
form ozone and other pollutants.

Different representations of benzene

Source: Wikimedia Commons

These different molecules are separated by fractional

distillation at an oil refinery to produce petrol, jet fuel,
kerosene, and other hydrocarbons. For example,
2,2,4-trimethylpentane (iso-octane), widely used in
petrol, has a chemical formula of C8H18 and reacts
with oxygen exothermically to form carbon dioxide and
water.

2C8H18(l) + 25O2(g) 16CO2(g) + 18H2O(g)

Incomplete combustion of petrol or gasoline results

in production of toxic by-products. Too little oxygen
results in the formation of carbon monoxide.

2C8H18(l) + 17O2(g) 16CO(g) + 18H2O(g)

Due to the high temperatures and high pressures

involved, exhaust gases from petrol combustion in
car engines usually include nitrogen oxides which are
responsible for the creation of photochemical smog.
Nitrogen oxides are formed by nitrogen and oxygen in
the air reacting together under high temperatures as 3D-hydrocarbon chains that make up petrochemicals.
found in the exhausts of fossil fuel-burning engines in
cars, trucks and in coal-fired power plants. This material was obtained from the website www.wikipedia.org. Learners -
if you use any part of it you need to write it in your own words and include
the following in your reference list: Wikipedia. 2010. Petroleum [Online].
Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum [12 May 2010].

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