Petroleum fractions: match all eight required uses
Recall each fraction and its specified use, including chemical feedstock, lubricants and bitumen beyond transport fuels.
Section C11.3 · Fuels
Cross-referenced to the 2028–2029 0653 section using original teaching from the related single-science courses. A 0653-specific objective-by-objective and Core/Supplement review is in progress. Written practice is self-checked and does not demonstrate supervised laboratory competence or award an official Cambridge grade.
Before you begin
- Describe fractional distillation and the relative column trends.
- Distinguish a feedstock, fuel and lubricant by purpose.
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
What does feedstock mean in this list?
What you will learn
- Name all eight required petroleum fractions and uses.
- Distinguish a chemical feedstock or material use from a fuel use.
Recall the upper and middle fraction roles
The refinery gas fraction is used as gas for heating and cooking. Gasoline/petrol is fuel for cars. Naphtha is a chemical feedstock, meaning a starting material for chemical manufacture rather than only a finished engine fuel. Kerosene/paraffin is used as jet fuel.
Diesel oil/gas oil is fuel for diesel engines. Fuel oil is used in ships and home heating systems in the required list. Names may vary between the paired terms, so recognise gasoline/petrol, kerosene/paraffin and diesel oil/gas oil as the specified equivalents rather than inventing a different required use for each spelling.
Not every fraction is introduced mainly as a fuel
The lubricating oil fraction is used for lubricants, waxes and polishes. Bitumen is used for making roads. Those uses exploit material properties and are not the same main purpose as supplying jet fuel. Recalling only petrol and diesel leaves six required fraction/use entries missing.
For exam practice, match the named required use rather than assuming all applications of each fraction are exhausted by this list. The fraction name also does not provide a single molecular formula or exact boiling temperature. Use the separation/trend model to support a relative comparison, and the explicit use list to answer the matching question.
Sources for this lesson
Pause and explain
Which required pairing is correct?
Worked example
A question asks for the fractions used as chemical feedstock, jet fuel, lubricants/waxes/polishes and road material. Name them.
Show the worked solution
- Chemical feedstock is naphtha, and jet fuel is kerosene/paraffin.
- Lubricants, waxes and polishes use the lubricating oil fraction.
- Road making uses bitumen rather than a gasoline/petrol answer for every purpose.
Answer Naphtha; kerosene/paraffin; lubricating oil; bitumen respectively.
Try a topic test
Choose Easy, Normal or Difficult. Save your answers and open worked review after finishing.
Test this topic →From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
Match refinery gas, gasoline/petrol, naphtha and kerosene/paraffin to the required uses.
Give me a hint
Separate the three fuel uses from the chemical-manufacture starting material.
Compare my reasoning
- Refinery gas: heating/cooking gas. Gasoline/petrol: car fuel.
- Naphtha: chemical feedstock.
- Kerosene/paraffin: jet fuel.
Refinery gas heating/cooking; gasoline/petrol cars; naphtha chemical feedstock; kerosene/paraffin jet fuel.
Look for these in your work
- All four pairs are correct.
- Naphtha is identified by its feedstock role.
Match diesel oil/gas oil, fuel oil, lubricating oil and bitumen to the required uses.
Give me a hint
Include every listed lubricating-oil and fuel-oil purpose.
Compare my reasoning
- Diesel oil/gas oil: diesel-engine fuel. Fuel oil: ships and home heating systems.
- Lubricating oil: lubricants, waxes and polishes.
- Bitumen: making roads.
Diesel oil/gas oil diesel engines; fuel oil ships/home heating; lubricating oil lubricants/waxes/polishes; bitumen roads.
Look for these in your work
- All four pairs are correct.
- The multi-use entries are complete.
A study chart lists every petroleum fraction as car fuel and omits naphtha, lubricating oil and bitumen. Explain the lost distinctions and restore those three required entries.
Give me a hint
A shared petroleum origin does not give every fraction the same purpose.
Compare my reasoning
- The required car-fuel entry is gasoline/petrol, while other fractions have different stated roles.
- Restore naphtha as chemical feedstock and lubricating oil for lubricants, waxes and polishes.
- Restore bitumen for road making; the chart must keep the individual fraction/use matches.
Restore naphtha feedstock, lubricating oil lubricants/waxes/polishes and bitumen roads; petroleum origin does not make all fractions car fuel.
Look for these in your work
- The three missing entries are restored.
- Fuel and material/feedstock purposes are distinguished.
Common mistakes
- Calling naphtha only the required jet-fuel answer.
- Omitting waxes and polishes from the lubricating-oil uses.
- Using petrol for every engine and material question.
- Assigning one fixed molecule to each mixed petroleum fraction.
What can you explain now?
Which fraction is the required chemical feedstock?
Compare with the explanation
Naphtha.
Feedstock is a starting material for chemical manufacture, different from naming only a fuel use.
After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.
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Make it stick
Recall all eight fraction/use pairs without notes, then explain why petrol, naphtha, lubricating oil and bitumen serve different purposes.
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.