1. L02. Making Crude Oil More Useful
Lesson Outcomes
APP AF2,AF3
PLTS effective participators, reflective learners
HSW 1d, 3a, 4a, 4b
How I did
Targets
Task 1: Describe how large hydrocarbon molecules may be converted into smaller ones
Grade C
Task 2: Explain why cracking is carried out.
Grade B
Task 3: Discuss in simple terms the political problems associated with the exploitation of crude oil.
Grade A/A*
Connector: (Grade D)
How is oil obtained?
List some of the environmental problems involved.

2. Write down a question based on these photos
Then share this with a small group.
Presentation_002, the photomontage of oil spills. Ask students to write down a question based on the photos, then
share this with a small group. Groups feed back their favourite question to the rest of the class for discussion.

3. Does cleaning a bird’s feathers help?
What happens when water is dripped onto a bird’s feather?
What substance is used to remove the crude oil from a bird’s feathers?
What effect does this have on the bird’s feathers?

4. Supply and Demand Task Sheet Due date:
Homework
Homework task:
Supply and Demand Task Sheet
Due date:
Criteria for Grade C:
Criteria for Grade B:
Criteria for Grade A/A*:

5. BIG picture What skills will you be developing this lesson?
Numeracy
Literacy 
Team work 
Self management 
Creative thinking 
Independent enquiry
Participation 
Reflection 
How is this lesson relevant to every day life? (WRL/CIT)

6. Task 1 (Grade C)
Task 1:
Describe how large hydrocarbon molecules may be converted into smaller ones
Task 1: Extension
Keywords for Task 1:
cracking
catalyst

7. Fractional distillation tower
Catalytic Cracking
Large hydrocarbons are broken into smaller molecules using pressure, heat and a catalyst.
This process is known as catalytic cracking.
The small molecules produced are then separated by fractional distillation.
Catalytic
cracker
Heat to
vaporise
Distillation
tower
pressure
Fractional distillation tower
Smaller molecules
Big Molecules
Molecules break up

8. Cracking a hydrocarbon in the laboratory
WARNING – to prevent suck back of water remove the water trough as soon as you stop heating the boiling tube.
Collect two test tubes of gas:
Carefully ignite the gas in one of the tubes.
Carefully add bromine water to the other tube, replace the stopper and gently shake.

9. Task 1: Summary – Copy and complete
Catalytic Cracking
Large hydrocarbons are broken into smaller molecules using pressure, heat and a catalyst.
This process needs a lot of energy because strong chemical bonds are being broken.
The small molecules produced are then separated by fractional distillation.
When carried out in the laboratory broken pottery is used as the catalyst.
catalyst strong smaller pressure energy fractional distillation broken pottery heat

10. How can I improve on task 1?
Task 1: Review
Go back to your lesson outcome grid and fill out the ‘How I did’ and the ‘Targets’ column.
Lesson Outcomes
How I did
Targets
Task 1:
Describe how large hydrocarbon molecules may be converted into smaller ones
Grade C
Met?
Partly met?
Not met?
How can I improve on task 1?

11. Explain why cracking is carried out.
Task 2 (Grade B)
Task 2:
Explain why cracking is carried out.
Task 2: Extension
Keywords for Task 2:
alkane
alkene
saturated
unsaturated

12. Making better use of Crude Oil
Small hydrocarbons are much more useful than those with long chains.
Crude oil contains lots of large molecules.
These long chain hydrocarbons are broken down, by cracking, into the more useful shorter chain molecules.
Small molecules
Big molecules
Medium molecules

13. Catalytic Cracking
In the catalytic cracker long chain molecules are split apart or ‘cracked’. An example of such a reaction is:
Octane
Heat
pressure
catalyst
hexane +
ethene
C=C
Used
to make
plastics
Used as a fuel
C8H18  C6H14 + C2H4

14. Activity
Draw out displayed formulae of a pair of products formed by cracking decane H C
decane
Heat
pressure
catalyst +
ethene H C
octane

15. Saturated or Unsaturated?
Saturated means “full up”.
Alkanes are saturated.
Every carbon atom has already used all four of it’s bonds to join to four other atoms. No other atoms can be added.
Alkanes have C-C single bonds.
Alkenes are unsaturated.
Alkenes have a C=C double bond that could instead become two single bonds. This means that other atoms can be added. It is not “full up”.
Alkenes are reactive compounds, and are often used to make polymers.

16. Compare your answers with your neighbour.
Task 1: Summary
Write a sentence to explain:
Why cracking is carried out.
What the products of cracking are used for.
The difference between an alkane and an alkene.
Compare your answers with your neighbour.

17. How can I improve on task 2?
Task 2: Review
Go back to your lesson outcome grid and fill out the ‘How I did’ and the ‘Targets’ column.
Lesson Outcomes
How I did
Targets
Task 2:
Explain why cracking is carried out.
Grade B
Met?
Partly met?
Not met?
How can I improve on task 2?

18. Task 3: (Grade A/A*) Task 3: Task 3: Extension Keywords for Task 3:
Discuss in simple terms the political problems associated with the exploitation of crude oil.
See page 7 in your text books, read through the appropriate section, and then write your own summary.
Task 3: Extension
Keywords for Task 3:
supply and demand
oil refinery
cracking

19. How can I improve on task 3?
Task 3: Review
Go back to your lesson outcome grid and fill out the ‘How I did’ and the ‘Targets’ column.
Lesson Outcomes
How I did
Targets
Task 3:
Discuss in simple terms the political problems associated with the exploitation of crude oil.
Grade A/A*
Met?
Partly met?
Not met?
How can I improve on task 3?

20. Review of lesson Catalyst, Cracking, Can you explain these key words?
Oil refinery
Petrochemical
Over-supply
Alkane
Alkene
Can you explain these key words?

21. Technician’s list
Demo – water & oil on a feather
Large feather
Vegetable oil
Washing up liquid
Washing up bowl
Cracking experiment
Per group
Boiling tube with mineral wool soaked in paraffin oil and broken pottery catalyst
Delivery tube & bung
Water trough
2x test tubes & stoppers
Bromine water
Splints
Clamp stands
bunsens