Final answer:
Fractional distillation, caused by heating in a fractionating column, separates crude oil into various components based on their boiling points. The vaporized hydrocarbons cool and condense at different levels within the column, leading to the separation into products like gasoline and diesel.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a fractionating column, the process caused by heating is known as fractional distillation. When crude oil is heated to about 425 °C, it vaporizes upon entering the base of the column. This process separates crude oil into different components, or fractions, by taking advantage of the different boiling temperatures of the hydrocarbons involved.
The vapors rise through bubble caps in a series of trays within the tower. As they gradually cool, they condense at different heights within the column depending on their boiling points. The lightest components with the lowest boiling points rise to the top, while the heaviest with higher boiling points remain at the bottom.
Oil refineries use this large-scale fractional distillation to create a variety of products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene. Through additional processes like cracking and reforming, refineries can also increase the value of the fractions produced, ultimately leading to a multitude of petroleum products with controlled formulas.