Crude oil is produced over millions of years by the breakdown of plant and animal remains at high temperature and pressure below the sea.

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Crude oil is produced over millions of years by
the breakdown of plant and animal remains at high
temperature and pressure below the sea. It is
composed of a mixture of different hydrocarbons,
some with branching chains, some without. The
components can be separated by fractional
distillation because each compound has a
different boiling point.
With thanks to doc. Brown for pictures
http//www.wpbschoolhouse.btinternet.co.uk
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USES of the fraction - depends on its properties
boiling range in oC
C atoms in the molecule
names  of fractions
THE FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION OF CRUDE OIL
Fuel Gas, LPG, Refinery Gas
gas fuel, C3-4 easily liquefied, portable energy
source bottled gas for cooking (butane), higher
pressure cylinders (propane)
-160 to 20oC
1 to 4
5 to 11
Gasoline, Petrol
easily vaporised, highly flammable, easily
ignited, car fuel
20 to 60oC
7 to 13
Naphtha
no good as a fuel, but valuable source of organic
molecules to make other things, cracked to make
more petrol and alkenes
60 to 180oC
less flammable than petrol, domestic heater fuel,
jet fuel
120 to 240oC
10 to 16
Paraffin, Kerosene
15 to 25
Diesel oil, Gas oil
car and larger vehicle fuel
220 to 250oC
20 to 70
Fuel and lubricating Oils and Waxes
not so easily evaporated, not as flammable, safe
to store for central heating oil, quite viscous
(sticky) and can also be used for lubricating
oils, clear waxes and polishes
250 to 350oC
forms a thick, black, tough and resistant
adhesive on cooling, used as waterproofing
material and to sticks rock chips on roofs or
road surfaces
over 350oC
over 70
Bitumen
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THE FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION OF CRUDE OIL
Fuel Gas, LPG, Refinery Gas
1 to 4 Carbon Atoms
-160 to 20oC
gas fuel, C3-4 easily liquefied, portable energy
source bottled gas for cooking (butane), higher
pressure cylinders (propane)
4
Gasoline, Petrol
5 to 11
20 to 60oC
easily vaporised, highly flammable, easily
ignited, car fuel
5
Naphtha
7 to 13
60 to 180oC
no good as a fuel, but valuable source of organic
molecules to make other things, cracked to make
more petrol and alkenes
6
Paraffin, Kerosene
10 to 16
120 to 240oC
less flammable than petrol, domestic heater fuel,
jet fuel
7
Diesel oil, Gas oil
15 to 25
220 to 250oC
car and larger vehicle fuel
8
Fuel and lubricating Oils and Waxes
20 to 70
250 to 350oC
not so easily evaporated, not as flammable, safe
to store for central heating oil, quite viscous
(sticky) and can also be used for lubricating
oils, clear waxes and polishes
9
Bitumen
over 70
over 350oC
forms a thick, black, tough and resistant
adhesive on cooling, used as waterproofing
material and to sticks rock chips on roofs or
road surfaces