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Why is crude oil important as a source of new materials?Uses of crude oil

Crude oil is a finite resource. It can be separated into its useful fractions by fractional distillation. Some fractions undergo cracking to help meet demand for the smaller molecules.

Part of Combined ScienceChemicals of the natural environment

Uses of crude oil

Crude oil is a complex mixture of . Hydrocarbons are that contain hydrogen and carbon only.

Uses of crude oil

Crude oil is an important source of:

  • for the industry

Fuels obtained from crude oil or are called . They include:

  • petrol, kerosene and diesel oil from crude oil
  • methane from natural gas

These fuels are - they are being used up faster than they are being formed.

A feedstock is a raw material used to provide reactants for an industrial reaction. A petrochemical is a substance made from crude oil using chemical reactions. For example, ethene is produced from crude oil. It is used as feedstock to make poly(ethene), a .

Almost all consumer goods require crude oil as part of the manufacturing process but crude oil is a . It forms extremely slowly over millions of years and is being used much faster than it can be replaced. It is important to balance the short-term benefits from fuels and materials crude oil produces with the need to conserve supplies for the future.