What physical property is used to separate the hydrocarbon components in petroleum (crude oil)?
A)melting point
B)density
C)boiling point
D)molar mass
E)viscosity

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The physical property used to separate the hydrocarbon components in petroleum is boiling point. This is because each hydrocarbon has a different boiling point, so when crude oil is heated, the hydrocarbons with lower boiling points will vaporize first, leaving the higher boiling point hydrocarbons behind. This process is called fractional distillation and is commonly used in the refining of crude oil.

What Physical Property Is Used to Separate the Hydrocarbon Components