Question

Name any four fractions obtained from petroleum which are used as fuels.

Answer 1

Hint: Petroleum is basically a mixture of hydrocarbons, which is formed beneath the surface of the earth naturally. It is a non-renewable resource and its various components are separated out from it using fractional distillation. We will discuss fractional distillation of petroleum further in the question.

Complete answer:
Fractional distillation is a method to separate miscible components from each other using their difference in the boiling points. The process involves heating and partial condensation of the mixture along a fractionating column such that compounds with lower boiling points pass first, and then compounds with higher boiling points.
The petroleum is obtained in a crude form which is dark viscous, containing many impurities. In order to use it, we need to separate it into various components. The refining of petroleum is thus done by fractional distillation.
Initially crude oil is neutralized by washing with acid or base as needed. The oil is heated in the furnace and the vapors are induced into the fractionating tower. The components with lower boiling points rise up the tower and condense at different levels according to their boiling points. Higher boiling point compounds rise later and are liquefied respectively. The products are shown below:

The four fractions obtained from petroleum which are used as fuels are Gasoline, Diesel Oil, Kerosene and Petrol.

Note:
Fractional distillation is also used for various other miscible liquids, which have very less difference in their boiling points. For example, water and acetone are separated using fractional distillation only.