Branching is important
Microsoft Clip Art
Many of the consumer products that you couldn't do without began life as a hydrocarbon in crude oil or in natural gas.
The crude oil is processed in refineries, like the one at Marsden Point in Northland. As the graphic shows, the processing involves separation of the oil into various fractions depending on differences in boiling point.
One of the most significant fractions is in the range C5 to C11.
The crude oil is processed in refineries, like the one at Marsden Point in Northland. As the graphic shows, the processing involves separation of the oil into various fractions depending on differences in boiling point.
One of the most significant fractions is in the range C5 to C11.
These hydrocarbons are suitable for use as gasoline in cars, motor bikes, buses and airplanes. These are the hydrocarbons that have featured in the preceding pages.
However, not all of these are equally good fuels. The straight chain hydrocarbons react poorly with oxygen under the conditions obtaining in an internal combustion engine.
The octane rating was introduced as a method of describing the quality of the fuel.
The C7 straight chain isomer is a particularly bad fuel and is given an octane rating of 0.
The highly branched C8 compound shown is given an octane rating of 100.
However, not all of these are equally good fuels. The straight chain hydrocarbons react poorly with oxygen under the conditions obtaining in an internal combustion engine.
The octane rating was introduced as a method of describing the quality of the fuel.The C7 straight chain isomer is a particularly bad fuel and is given an octane rating of 0.
The highly branched C8 compound shown is given an octane rating of 100.