Which of the following methods of separation is used in the refining of petroleum.
Which of the following methods of separation is used in the refining of petroleum.
The correct option is B Fractional distillation
Petroleum is a mixture of petroleum products like gasoline, petrol, diesel, petroleum jelly, paraffin wax etc.
The explanation for the correct option:
- Fractional distillation is used to separate miscible liquid components that have their boiling point within a limit of 10K -15K.
- All petroleum products have different boiling points but their boiling points are within the limit of 10K-15 K.
- Hence, petroleum products are separated using fractional distillation.
So, the correct option is b.
The explanation for the incorrect options:
a) Fractional evaporation is used to separate the mixture of liquified gases. As some of petroleum products are not liquified gas, they are not separated by fractional evaporation.
c) Fractional crystallization is a separation technique of components of a mixture on the basis of the differences in their solubilities in a common solvent. All petroleum products are similar in their solubilities, thus they cannot be separated using fractional crystallization.
d) Solvent extraction: This method is also based on differences in the solubilities but due to similar solubility properties of petroleum products, this method is not suitable
Conclusion: The correct option is b).
Fractional distillation
Petroleum is a mixture of petroleum products like gasoline, petrol, diesel, petroleum jelly, paraffin wax etc.
The explanation for the correct option:
- Fractional distillation is used to separate miscible liquid components that have their boiling point within a limit of 10K -15K.
- All petroleum products have different boiling points but their boiling points are within the limit of 10K-15 K.
- Hence, petroleum products are separated using fractional distillation.
So, the correct option is b.
The explanation for the incorrect options:
a) Fractional evaporation is used to separate the mixture of liquified gases. As some of petroleum products are not liquified gas, they are not separated by fractional evaporation.
c) Fractional crystallization is a separation technique of components of a mixture on the basis of the differences in their solubilities in a common solvent. All petroleum products are similar in their solubilities, thus they cannot be separated using fractional crystallization.
d) Solvent extraction: This method is also based on differences in the solubilities but due to similar solubility properties of petroleum products, this method is not suitable
Conclusion: The correct option is b).
