This exam focus covers Exam Focus: Crude Oil within Crude Oil for GCSE Chemistry. Topic 37: Crude Oil It is section 11 of 13 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 11 of 13
Practice
20 questions
Recall
15 flashcards
🎯 Exam Focus: Crude Oil
very-high Explain questions (3-4 marks): Explain why fractional distillation separates fractions — must mention boiling points, condensation, and forces between molecules.
high Properties questions (2 marks): Predict properties of a fraction based on chain length — shorter = lower bp, more flammable, less viscous.
high Physical vs chemical (1 mark): Fractional distillation is physical; cracking is chemical. This distinction is frequently tested.
Common exam question: "Why is fraction X collected at a higher position than fraction Y?" — Answer: X has lower boiling point/shorter chain, so rises higher before condensing.
Edexcel 1CH0: Examined in Paper 2 (1CH0/2). Edexcel tests fractional distillation, uses of fractions, and the trend in boiling point — common 4-mark questions on Paper 2. In Edexcel-style questions, the command word "Suggest" appears frequently — use your chemistry knowledge to apply to an unfamiliar context.
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Crude Oil. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
Practice Questions for Crude Oil
A hydrocarbon is a compound that contains only:
Explain how fractional distillation separates crude oil into different fractions.
Quick Recall Flashcards
20 questions on Crude Oil — practise free
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