Question

Petroleum is a mixture of different hydrocarbons
A. Which method is used for separating the components of petroleum?
B. Which is the hydrocarbon present in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)?
C. Write any two environmental issues caused by the excessive consumption of fossil fuels.

Answer 1

Hint: We have to know the word petroleum is obtained from Latin words. Petro means rock and oleum means oil. We can say petroleum is a naturally occurring fluid that is extracted from the surface of the earth. We can use it as a source for several fuels which we use in our day to day life.

Complete step by step answer: We know that petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons and it is formed by compression of organic matter. It is fossil fuel that is formed by degradation of many organisms and compounds for over a million years. Therefore, it is obtained as a dark coloured liquid oil from the rocks. It is otherwise called rock oil or black gold.
We can separate the components of petroleum using fractional distillation. Fractional distillation is the process by which we can separate different constituents of petroleum on the basis of difference between boiling points of the respective constituents by distillation. Distillation is boiling and then condensing. We use a fractionating column for separating the components of petroleum.
We have to know that LPG or liquefied petroleum gas is also called autogas. LPG comprises propane, butane, propylene, and butylene in different mixtures. It is produced as a by-product of processing of natural gas and refining of petroleum. At normal temperatures and pressure, the components of LPG are gases. In LPG, propane and butane are present in equal percentages.
We know that fossil fuels are buried organic matter that can be converted to coal, natural gas, oil (or) any heavy oils by applying pressure and heat on Earth’s crust. When we burn excess fossil fuels, they liberate harmful products to the environment. The excess consumption of fossil fuel results in harmful effects on the environment. Two environmental issues that happens by the excessive consumption of fossil fuels are,
- Global warming due to release of carbon dioxide
- Poisoning due to release of carbon monoxide

Note: We know that mixture of different types of hydrocarbons in large numbers is Petroleum. Alkanes (paraffin), cycloalkanes (naphthalenes), asphaltenes, aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene are some chemicals present in hydrocarbons. We can separate these chemicals by the process of fractional distillation. The products obtained from petroleum are paraffin, lubricating oil, wax, fuel oil, gasoline, kerosene, and petroleum gas. Based on their boiling point, we can separate the products from petroleum. The compounds that have low boiling point are separated first. The important constituents of petroleum are LPG, petrol, kerosene.