The Oil Industry
Which 2 countries have the largest oil reserves?
Venezuela and Saudi Arabia
How are valuable fractions separated from petroleum?
Fractional distillation
Do C1/C2 products have higher or lower boiling points than other petroleum products?
Lower
Why is acetone so useful as a solvent?
Many organic compounds dissolve readily in it, but it's also miscible in water
What is it called when straight chain alkanes ignite in an engine cylinder before the cylinder reaches the optimum position?
pre-ignition, or engine knock
How is petroleum formed?
Remains of living plants/animals from 50-500 million years ago, under high pressure, heat, and biochemical activity
What is a mid stream stage of the oil and gas industry?
Transportation, processing, storage & distribution
Name one of the 3 important C1 products discussed in class
Methanol, Methanal (formaldehyde), Methanoic (Formic) acid
Name one of the important C3 products discussed in class
propene, propanone (acetone)
How is an octane rating measured?
The resistance of gasoline to knock (on an arbitrary scale where heptane is given a score of 0, and isooctane is given a score of 100)
What is one of the largest volume products of the oil industry
Fuel oil and/or gasoline
What is cracking?
a process in which large hydrocarbon molecules are broken down into smaller and more useful ones, such as alkenes or cyclic alkanes
Name one of the 2 important C2 products discussed in class
Ethanol, ethene
Name the important C4 products discussed in class
butadiene
How long are typical carbon chains in diesel fuel?
C9-C25
What is a pumpjack?
Equipment used to access oil after natural pressure is no longer sufficient to raise oil to the surface
What is isomerization?
The process in which straight chain hydrocarbon molecules are rearranged into more useful branched-chain isomers
What is the largest use for methanol?
Feedstock for the plastic industry
Name one of the 2 important uses of butadiene discussed in class
Making polymers and manufacturing car tires
What does a high cetane number indicate?
What is an anticline?
An area where previously flat strata have been bent upward by tectonic plate movement to form an arch
What is Akylation?
The transfer of an alkyl group from one molecule to another
What are formates?
Esters, salts, and anions derived from formic acid
Why is propene such an important building block for a large number of chemicals?
It readily undergoes substitution reactions, leading to a wide range of chemicals
How many steps are involved in the cycle of a typical engine piston?
4 (intake, compression, power, exhaust)