Final answer:
When too little heat is used in a fractionating column, the process of distillation may not work effectively. If the temperature is too low, some of the heavier components with higher boiling points may not vaporize completely and may end up in the lighter fractions. This can result in impure fractions and lower quality products.
Step-by-step explanation:
When too little heat is used in a fractionating column, the process of distillation may not work effectively. In a fractionating column, the crude oil is heated to high temperatures to allow the components to vaporize and rise up the column. As the vapors cool, they condense and are collected as separate fractions. If too little heat is used, the vaporization and condensation processes may not occur efficiently, leading to improper separation of the components.
For example, if the temperature is too low, some of the heavier components with higher boiling points may not vaporize completely and may end up in the fractions that are supposed to be lighter. This can result in impure fractions and lower quality products.