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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science

Topic questions Organic chemistry Crude oil, hydrocarbons & alkanes

Crude oil, hydrocarbons & alkanes

12 questions · 124 marks · about 2.5 hours

Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes questions

Edexcel 1SC0 Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes 12 questions

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2025 Foundation tier, Question 6 13 marks

Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons.

(a)
(a)(i)

The majority of hydrocarbons in crude oil belong to one homologous series.

Give the name of this series.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(i)
(a)(ii)
Figure for question 6
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(ii)
(b)

When hydrocarbons undergo combustion, water is produced.

Draw a dot and cross diagram of a molecule of water.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)
(c)

One compound in crude oil contains 0.96 g of carbon atoms combined with 0.32 g of hydrogen atoms.

Calculate the empirical formula of this compound.

(relative atomic masses: C = 12, H = 1.0)

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(c)
(d)

*(d) Crude oil is separated into useful products called fractions using fractional distillation.

Figure 9 shows a fractional distillation column and the fractions kerosene and fuel oil.

Figure for question 6

Kerosene and fuel oil have different uses depending on their properties.

Describe the properties and uses of kerosene and fuel oil. Include in your answer

β€’ the difference in boiling point

β€’ the difference in viscosity

β€’ the difference in ease of ignition

β€’ their uses and how fuel oil can be converted into kerosene.

[6]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(d)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2025 Higher tier, Question 5 13 marks

This question is about carbon and some carbon compounds.

(a)

Two forms of pure carbon are graphite and Buckminsterfullerene.

(a)(i)

Explain why graphite is used as a lubricant.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Calculate the mass, in kg, of five moles of Buckminsterfullerene, C60.

(relative atomic mass: C = 12)

mass =........ kg

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(a)(ii)
(b)

A molecule in an homologous series has the formula C9H21N.

What is the formula of the next molecule in this homologous series?

Question 5, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(b)
(c)

A Bunsen burner burns methane gas, CH4.

A student investigates the time taken to heat up a beaker of water using this Bunsen burner.

Figure 5 shows the apparatus used.

Figure for question 5

The student sees that a large amount of carbon forms as a black solid on the underside of the gauze.

The teacher said that the investigation would be improved if no carbon forms.

Explain what the student should do to stop carbon forming on the underside of the gauze.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)
(d)

*(d) Natural processes and human activities change the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Figure 6 shows the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere measured in one location and the mean global temperature from 1960 to 2000.

Figure for question 5

Evaluate whether the data in Figure 6 shows that the change in the amount of carbon dioxide is leading to climate change.

Your answer should include

β€’ the natural processes that change the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

β€’ the human activities that change the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

β€’ how carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect and climate change.

[6]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(d)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2024 Foundation tier, Question 3 10 marks

(a)

Figure 5 shows the structure of one molecule of three different compounds, X, Y and Z.

Figure for question 3

The molecules of the compounds shown in Figure 5 all contain the same number of carbon atoms.

(a)(i)

Give the number of carbon atoms in a molecule of compound X.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Compound X contains carbon and one other element.

Give the name of the other element in compound X.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(ii)
(a)(iii)

Which of the compounds in Figure 5 is a hydrocarbon?

Question 3, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(iii)
(a)(iv)

Which of the compounds in Figure 5 have the same molecular formula?

Question 3, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(iv)
(b)

Figure 6 shows where fractions are produced in the fractional distillation of crude oil.

Figure for question 3

Complete the sentences about fractions obtained from crude oil.

The fraction with the smallest molecules is called........ .

Compared to petrol, the boiling point of kerosene is........ .

When petrol burns, one product is........ .

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)
(c)

When some impure hydrocarbon fuels are burned, sulfur dioxide is one of the products.

Some sulfur dioxide gas is dissolved in water to form solution W.

When solution W is added to sodium hydroxide solution of pH 12

β€’ the pH changes

β€’ the temperature increases.

Explain how the pH changes and why the temperature increases.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(c)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2024 Higher tier, Question 3 9 marks

(a)
(a)(i)

Most hydrocarbons found in fossil fuels are members of the alkane homologous series.

State two features of an homologous series.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(i)
(a)(ii)
Figure for question 3
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(ii)
(b)

A fossil fuel contains carbon and sulfur.

Explain how the products of the complete combustion of this fossil fuel would affect the environment.

[4]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)
(c)

Incomplete combustion of fuels may produce carbon monoxide.

Write the balanced equation for the incomplete combustion of heptane, C7H16, where all of the carbon atoms form carbon monoxide.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(c)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2022 Foundation tier, Question 3 10 marks

(a)

Figure 5 shows one molecule of a compound obtained from crude oil.

Figure for question 3
(a)(i)

Give the names of the two elements in this molecule.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

What is the molecule in Figure 5?

Question 3, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(ii)
(a)(iii)

What is the relative formula mass of the compound in Figure 5?

(relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, C = 12)

Question 3, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(iii)
(b)

Crude oil can be separated into different fractions.

Draw one straight line from each fraction to a use of that fraction.

Figure for question 3
[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)
(c)

Hydrogen chloride gas and sulfur dioxide gas are dissolved in separate test tubes of water. Blue litmus paper is dipped into each test tube.

State and explain the colour change you would observe in each test tube.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(c)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2022 Higher tier, Question 3 9 marks

(a)

Figure 4 shows some information about the composition of pollutant exhaust gases from the engines of two different vehicles.

Figure for question 3
(a)(i)

Give two ways in which the data in Figure 4 shows that the diesel engine is more damaging to the environment than the petrol engine.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Explain, using information from Figure 4, one way in which the diesel engine is less damaging to the environment than the petrol engine.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(ii)
(b)(i)

Which statement about the members of the alkane homologous series is correct?

Question 3, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)(i)
(b)(ii)
Figure for question 3
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)(ii)
(b)(iii)

Write the balanced equation for the complete combustion of octane, C8H18.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)(iii)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 November 2021 Foundation tier, Question 6 13 marks

Diesel oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that can be obtained from crude oil.

(a)

State the name of the process used to separate diesel oil from crude oil.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)
(b)

Diesel oil contains alkanes. These alkanes are part of an homologous series.

Which statement about compounds in this homologous series is true?

Question 6, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)
(c)

When fuels such as diesel oil are burned, the high temperatures produced can cause nitrogen and oxygen in the air to form the pollutant nitrogen dioxide.

Complete the balanced equation for the reaction.

N2 + 2O2 maths symbol........

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(c)
(d)

Explain how the greenhouse effect is caused by the gases produced by the complete combustion of diesel oil.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(d)
(e)

*(e) Diesel oil can contain impurities of sulfur. Burning diesel oil containing impurities of sulfur can result in acid rain. Acid rain is harmful to the environment.

Explain how acid rain is formed and the harm it can do.

[6]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(e)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 November 2021 Higher tier, Question 2 7 marks

Diesel oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that can be obtained from crude oil.

(a)

State the name of the process used to separate diesel oil from crude oil.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)
(b)

Diesel oil contains alkanes. These alkanes are part of an homologous series.

Which statement about compounds in this homologous series is true?

Question 2, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(b)
(c)

When fuels such as diesel oil are burned, the high temperatures produced can cause nitrogen and oxygen in the air to form the pollutant nitrogen dioxide.

Complete the balanced equation for the reaction.

N2 + 2O2 maths symbol........

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)
(d)

Explain how the greenhouse effect is caused by the gases produced by the complete combustion of diesel oil.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(d)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2019 Foundation tier, Question 5 11 marks

Most of the fuels used today are obtained from crude oil.

(a)

Which statement about crude oil is correct?

Question 5, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(a)
(b)

Crude oil is separated into several fractions by fractional distillation. Two of these fractions are kerosene and diesel oil.

(b)(i)

State a use for each of these fractions.

kerosene........

diesel oil........

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Figure 8 shows where the fractions kerosene and diesel oil are produced in the fractionating column.

Figure for question 5

Kerosene is obtained higher up the column than diesel oil. Kerosene and diesel oil fractions have slightly different properties.

Choose a property. State how this property for kerosene compares with the property for diesel oil.

property........

comparison........

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(b)(ii)
(c)

Figure 9 shows the formulae of a molecule of butane and of a molecule of pentane. Butane and pentane are neighbouring members of the same homologous series.

Figure for question 5
(c)(i)

Explain, using these formulae, why butane and pentane are neighbouring members of the same homologous series.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

Butane has the formula C4H10.

Calculate the mass of carbon in 100 g of butane.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

(relative atomic masses: H = 1.00, C = 12.0; relative formula mass: C4H10 = 58.0)

You must show your working.

mass of carbon =........ g

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)(ii)
(c)(iii)

Butane burns completely in air to form carbon dioxide and water.

Write the word equation for this reaction.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)(iii)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2019 Higher tier, Question 1 9 marks

Most of the fuels used today are obtained from crude oil.

(a)

Which statement about crude oil is correct?

Question 1, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(a)
(b)

Crude oil is separated into several fractions by fractional distillation. Two of these fractions are kerosene and diesel oil.

(b)(i)

State a use for each of these fractions.

kerosene........

diesel oil........

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Figure 1 shows where the fractions kerosene and diesel oil are produced in the fractionating column.

Figure for question 1

Kerosene is obtained higher up the column than diesel oil. Kerosene and diesel oil fractions have slightly different properties.

Choose a property. State how this property for kerosene compares with the property for diesel oil.

property........

comparison........

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(b)(ii)
(c)

Figure 2 shows the formulae of a molecule of butane and of a molecule of pentane. Butane and pentane are neighbouring members of the same homologous series.

Figure for question 1
(c)(i)

Explain, using these formulae, why butane and pentane are neighbouring members of the same homologous series.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

Butane has the formula C4H10.

Calculate the mass of carbon in 100 g of butane.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

(relative atomic masses: H = 1.00, C = 12.0; relative formula mass: C4H10 = 58.0)

You must show your working.

mass of carbon =........ g

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(c)(ii)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2018 Foundation tier, Question 3 9 marks

Crude oil is found in the Earth’s crust.

(a)

Which of the statements about crude oil is correct?

Question 3, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)
(b)

The substances ethane, C2H6, octane, C8H18, and pentadecane, C15H32, are all found in crude oil.

These substances

Question 3, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)
(c)(i)

Use a word from the box to complete each of the sentences about the fractional distillation of crude oil.

Figure for question 3

Each word may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

The separation of crude oil into fractions occurs in a fractional distillation column.

Before crude oil is passed into the column it is........ .

During the distillation, vapour rises up the column until it is cold enough for the

vapour to form a liquid. The vapour has been........ .

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(c)(i)
(c)(ii)
Figure for question 3
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(c)(ii)
(d)
Figure for question 3
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(d)
(e)

In January 2015 the United Kingdom produced 850 000 barrels of crude oil per day. 45% of this crude oil was fuel oil.

Calculate the number of barrels of fuel oil present in the 850 000 barrels of crude oil.

Give your answer to two significant figures.

........ barrels

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(e)

Paper 4: Chemistry 2 June 2018 Higher tier, Question 4 11 marks

Crude oil is a complex mixture of substances.

(a)

Crude oil can be separated into useful fractions by fractional distillation.

Figure 3 shows a fractional distillation column and the fractions produced when a sample of crude oil is distilled.

Figure for question 4

The properties of these fractions vary from the top of the column to the bottom of the column.

Which of the following is a trend in a property of the fractions obtained from the top of the column to those obtained from the bottom?

Question 4, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(a)
(b)

Most of the substances in crude oil are alkanes.

(b)(i)

Which of the following is the general formula of an alkane?

Question 4, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Explain why alkanes are described as hydrocarbons.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)(ii)
(c)

Figure 4 shows a graph of the boiling points of some alkanes against the number of carbon atoms in one molecule of each alkane.

Figure for question 4

Explain the pattern shown by this graph.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(c)
(d)
Figure for question 4
(d)(i)

Use the information in Figure 5 to give the name of the fraction that is most likely to need to be cracked.

........

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(d)(i)
(d)(ii)

In a cracking reaction, reactants are heated to form products. This reaction is endothermic.

On the axes provided, draw the reaction profile of this reaction. Label the energy of the reactants, the energy of the products and the activation energy of the reaction.

Figure for question 4
[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(d)(ii)
(d)(iii)

Dodecane, C12H26, can be cracked to form useful products.

Complete the equation for the cracking of dodecane by filling in the formula of the single molecule needed to balance the equation.

C12H26 maths symbol........ + 3C2H4

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(d)(iii)

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