Organic ChemistryMemory Aid

Memory Aid: Size and Position

Part of Crude OilGCSE Chemistry

This memory aid covers Memory Aid: Size and Position within Crude Oil for GCSE Chemistry. Topic 37: Crude Oil It is section 10 of 13 in this topic. Use it for quick recall, then test yourself straight afterwards so the memory aid becomes usable in an answer.

Topic position

Section 10 of 13

Practice

20 questions

Recall

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🧠 Memory Aid: Size and Position

Remember the pattern in the fractionating column with this phrase:

Small molecules = low BP = rise to TOP  |  Big molecules = high BP = stay at BOTTOM

Think of hot air balloons — lighter, smaller balloons (molecules) rise to the top; heavier, larger ones stay at the bottom.

Properties going UP the column — remember the acronym FILMS:

  • F — more Flammable
  • I — fewer Intermolecular forces
  • L — Less viscous (runnier)
  • M — smaller Molecule size
  • S — lower boiling point (Smaller Bp)

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:

  • A. Hydrogen and carbon only
  • B. Hydrogen and oxygen only
  • C. Carbon and nitrogen only
  • D. Hydrogen, carbon and oxygen
1 markfoundation

Explain how fractional distillation separates crude oil into different fractions.

3 marksstandard

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