Which of the following processes occur during fractional distillation of petroleum?
Answer Details
During fractional distillation of petroleum, the process that occurs is evaporation and condensation. Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons with different boiling points. During fractional distillation, the mixture is heated and vaporized. The vapor rises through the fractionating column, which is cooler at the top and hotter at the bottom. As the vapor rises, it cools and condenses at different heights in the column, based on its boiling point. The lighter hydrocarbons with lower boiling points will condense at the top of the column, while the heavier hydrocarbons with higher boiling points will condense lower down. This process of separating a mixture based on the differences in boiling points is known as fractional distillation. Therefore, the correct answer is "Evaporation and condensation".