Crude oil may contain hundreds of different types of hydrocarbons. Some examples include:
Butane(C4H10)
Dodecane (C12H26)
Octane (C8H18)
Benzene (C6H6)
Many common fuels, such as gasoline and kerosene, are combinations of these substances or others. When these fuels burn, they combine with oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).
Identify each of the highlighted materials as an element, a compound, or a mixture, and explain your reasoning.
- Butane (C4H10): Butane is a compound. It consists of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms chemically bonded together in a specific ratio.
- Dodecane (C12H26): Dodecane is also a compound. It consists of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms chemically bonded together in a specific ratio.
- Octane (C8H18): Octane is a compound. It consists of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms chemically bonded together in a specific ratio.
- Benzene (C6H6): Benzene is a compound. It consists of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms chemically bonded together in a specific ratio.
- Gasoline and kerosene: Gasoline and kerosene are mixtures. They consist of a combination of various hydrocarbons, such as butane, octane, and benzene, along with other additives. Mixtures are formed when two or more different substances are physically combined without undergoing any chemical reactions.