English National Curriculum - Science
Mission Objectives
Name and describe the main fractions obtained from crude oil and their common uses
Explain how fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions and how chain length affects their properties
Predict how changes in hydrocarbon chain length influence properties such as colour, viscosity, flammability and boiling point
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Words and meanings to learn
viscosity
a measure of how thick or runny a liquid is — the higher the viscosity, the thicker and less easily it flows
volatility
a measure of how easily a liquid evaporates and turns into a gas — substances with lower boiling points are more volatile
fractions
groups of hydrocarbons from crude oil that have similar chain lengths and boiling points
fuel
a substance that releases energy when it burns, usually by reacting with oxygen in a combustion reaction
fractional distillation
a process used to separate a mixture of liquids with different boiling points, such as separating crude oil into fractions
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Resources:
Teacher demo: fractional distillation and compare the viscosity and flammability of some fractions
Expert film
Mission assignment film
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