Did you know... ?
You can’t just take crude oil from the ground and pop it in your tank – it has to be refined first. At oil refineries, crude oil is heated up until it begins to separate in a “fractional distillation tower”. Here’s where the chemistry comes in. The heavier components, or “fractions”, stay near the bottom of the tower. They get pulled out and made into products like tar. The lighter “fractions” turn into vapour and rise higher in the tower, where they are captured and made into products like gasoline and jet fuel. Learn more about the steps in the refining process.
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When you think of what’s fuelled by oil or gas, you probably think of cars and trucks that run on gasoline. But some vehicles operate on diesel or even natural gas. Boats, airplanes and trains also run on fuels made from oil and gas. Gas barbecues and patio heaters burn propane or natural gas, and charcoal barbecues are often started with lighter fluid. Most lighters use butane. Do you know the phrase “now you’re cooking with gas”? Well, many ovens and stoves run on natural gas. And some electrical generation plants run on natural gas. No question: oil and gas fuel our lives! Here are the most common fuels made from oil and gas: Butane |