How Heavy is Oil

Fractionation is an important part in refining petroleum into gasoline or any other petroleum based product. Oil refineries separate petroleum based on their densities. There is both light oil and heavy oil processing units in a refinery. To make gasoline, light oil and heavy oil goes through a different process to reach the end product. It is very important to separate these oils before the refining process begins, otherwise the product may be unstable.

The students are able to observe the properties of different kinds of oil and be able to separate them when they are mixed together. By measuring the different relative weights of oils, the students mix together the three oils, observe them settle in three distinct layers, and then using a pipette (or any other suction device) they are able to remove the middle layer of oil. By measuring the different relative weights of oils, the students mix together the three oils, observe them settle in three distinct layers, and then using a pipette (or any other suction) they are able to remove the middle layer of oil.

Understanding that the different densities of oils make a difference in the refining of petroleum is the goal of this lesson. So being able to use and understand the fractionation process in the classroom would help in the overall understanding of the refining process.