Final answer:
The physical property used to separate hydrocarbon components in petroleum is the B. boiling point, accomplished through a process called fractional distillation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physical property used to separate the hydrocarbon components in petroleum is B. boiling point. This separation process is known as fractional distillation, which takes advantage of the differences in boiling points among various hydrocarbons. During fractional distillation, the crude oil is heated, causing the components with lower boiling points to vaporize and rise to the top of the distillation column, where they condense and are collected. Conversely, components with higher boiling points condense at the bottom of the column. This method allows for the separation of petroleum into distinct fractions, each with its mixture of hydrocarbon chains of varying lengths and boiling points.
The physical property used to separate the hydrocarbon components in petroleum is boiling point. Petroleum is a mixture of different hydrocarbons, which have different boiling points. During the process of fractional distillation, the petroleum is heated and the components with lower boiling points vaporize and rise to the top of the distillation column, while the components with higher boiling points remain at the bottom. This allows for the separation of the different components based on their boiling points.