Explain how fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions.

In the subtopic Fractional distillation and cracking, this AQA A-Level Chemistry 7405 learning objective focuses on explain how fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions. It belongs to Alkanes, so revision should stay anchored to this exact subtopic rather than drifting into a generic GCSE-level chemistry summary. Approved keywords to use include fractional distillation, crude oil. Fractional Distillation. means a separation technique that exploits differences in boiling points to isolate components of a liquid mixture, such as crude oil, into distinct fractions Avoid the mistake of students often think that fractional distillation separates crude oil based solely on boiling points without considering the role of intermolecular forces; instead, fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions based on both boiling points and the strength of intermolecular forces. The formula for separation involves understanding that components with lower boiling points and weaker intermolecular forces vaporize first. For example, lighter fractions like gasoline have lower boiling points than heavier fractions like diesel. Therefore, as the crude oil is heated, the lighter fractions rise and condense at different levels in the fractionating column For exam answers, remember that fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions based on boiling points. The lower the boiling point, the higher the fraction in the column