Petroleum & Hydrocarbons
Last updated 21 October 2018
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This page has been created to support Year 8 Science students with their task on Petroleum and Hydrocarbons.
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Easy to understand
Neither too easy or too difficult
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Click on the level you need to work at for each question.
Note: All resources listed on this page can be accessed in full – even the books.
1. Where is petroleum found?
Easy
Coad, J. (2009). Finding and using oil. Oxford: Heinemann Library.
Chapman, G., & Hodges, G. (2010). Oil. South Yarra, Vic: Macmillan Education.
Medium
The Association for Science Education. (n.d.). Where is petroleum found?. Retrieved from http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/EnergyInstitute/14-16/fossils/p3.html
OPEC. (2018). OPEC share of world crude oil reserves, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/data_graphs/330.htm
Todd, J., Straten, M., Schaefer Zarske, M., & Yowell, J. (2004). Harvesting oil from the Earth. Retrieved from https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/cub_earth_lesson07
Challenging
Curley, R. (Ed.). (2012). Fossil fuels. New York: Britannica Publishing.
2. How is petroleum formed?
3. When did petroleum form?
Easy
Oxlade, C. (2004). How we use oil. Chicago, Illinois: Raintree.
MocomiKids. (2013, February 1). Where Do We Get Oil From? – Geography for Kids [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ1HIBIIJU0
Medium
Coad, J. (2009). Finding and using oil. Oxford: Heinemann Library.
EarthScience WesternAustralia. (2014, September 5). Oil and gas formation [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YHsxXEVB1M
Economides, M.J. (2018). Petroleum. In World Book Student. Retrieved from World Book Online database.
Fossil fuels – formation [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.twig-world.com/film/fossil-fuels-formation-1316/
Into the Outdoors. (2016, August 18). Decoding the science of crude oil [Video file]. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/179369110
Society of Petroleum Engineers. (2015). Petroleum – oil and natural gas. Retrieved from http://energy4me.org/all-about-energy/what-is-energy/energy-sources/petroleum/
Challenging
Curley, R. (Ed.). (2012). Fossil fuels. New York: Britannica Publishing.
Oil & Gas Videos. (2014, March 6). Formation of reservoir rock [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PDOD_FEnNk
4. How does fractional distillation separate the components of petroleum?
Easy
Chapman, G., & Hodges, G. (2010). Oil. South Yarra, Vic: Macmillan Education.
Elements, compounds and mixtures. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.gcsescience.com/e7-fractional-distillation.htm
Medium
BBC. (n.d.). Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zshvw6f/revision/3
Chemical from oil. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/chemistry/products-from-crude-oil/revise-it/chemicals-from-oil
Freudenrich, C. (2001). How oil refining works. Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/oil-refining4.htm
Fractional distillation [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.twig-world.com/film/fractional-distillation-1371/
Into the Outdoors. (2016, August 22). Distillation of crude oil [Video file]. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/179805077
Challenging
Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2017, September 11). Fractional distillation definition and examples. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-fractional-distillation-604421
Hydrocarbons. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mcvts.net/cms/lib07/nj01911694/centricity/domain/136/chap21.pdf
5. What are hydrocarbons?
Easy
Whittaker, M. (n.d.). Hydrocarbons. Retrieved from https://www.saddlespace.org/whittakerm/science/cms_page/view/7795277
Medium
Economides, M.J. (2018). Petroleum. In World Book Student. Retrieved from World Book Online database.
Challenging
Hydrocarbons. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mcvts.net/cms/lib07/nj01911694/centricity/domain/136/chap21.pdf
What’s the difference between gasoline, kerosene, diesel, etc?. (2000). Retrieved from https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/question105.htm
6. What are three examples of hydrocarbons that we use everyday?
Easy
Oxlade, C. (2004). How we use oil. Chicago, Illinois: Raintree. eBook
Medium
Economides, M.J. (2018). Petroleum. In World Book Student. Retrieved from World Book Online database.
Fossil fuel uses. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://helpsavenature.com/fossil-fuel-uses
Kielmas, M. (2018). The uses of hydrocarbon gas. Retrieved from https://sciencing.com/info-8478071-uses-hydrocarbon-gas.html
Challenging
7. Why are hydrocarbons so useful?
Medium
Fossil fuel uses. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://helpsavenature.com/fossil-fuel-uses
Gillaspy, R. (n.d.). What are fossil fuels? – definition, advantages and disadvantages. Retrieved from Study.com
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Ramos, J. (2017). Fossil fuel pros and cons. Retrieved from https://sciencetrends.com/fossil-fuel-pros-cons-true-advantage-oil-gas/
Challenging
Hobbes, B. (2015, December 2). What are fossil fuels and why are they such popular energy sources?. ABC News. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2015-12-02/fossil-fuels-and-why-are-they-such-popular-energy-source/6991164
8. Which hydrocarbons are better fuels? Why?
Medium
BBC. (2014). Using carbon fuels. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/carbon_chemistry/carbon_fuelsrev1.shtml
Brinson, L. (2012). Is natural gas a good source of energy?. Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/natural-gas-energy.htm
Natural Gas Supply Association. (2013). Overview of natural gas. Retrieved from http://naturalgas.org/overview/background/
Shell. (n.d.). Natural gas and its advantages. Retrieved from https://www.shell.com/energy-and-innovation/natural-gas/natural-gas-and-its-advantages.html
Challenging
American Association for the Advancement of Science. (n.d.). Combustion of fossil fuels teachers sheet. Retrieved from http://sciencenetlinks.com/student-teacher-sheets/combustion-fossil-fuels-teacher-sheet/
BBC. (2018). Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zshvw6f/revision/4
9. Identify other applications where fractional distillation is used to isolate valuable components of a mixture. (Optional)
Medium
Maxfield, M. (2018). Practical uses of distillation. Retrieved from https://sciencing.com/practical-uses-distillation-6111781.html
Challenging
Fractional distillation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://sciencestruck.com/fractional-distillation
References
Crude Oil [Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://nolasia.net/the-chinese-crude-futures-market/