Experiment 6 Plus: Teacher Notes
Crude Oil Distillation Simulation
Introduction:
Using the BP Educational Services Oil Samples Kit with accompanying Teacher’s Notes and the websites listed
below, students will research crude oil distillation.
You may like to demonstrate a distillation experiment first. The Royal Society of Chemistry has demonstration
details.
They will use this knowledge to design their own distillation apparatus using a soda can, aluminium foil and
fizzy drink and try to create a design that will collect the most distillate in a given time.
Materials:
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BP Educational Services Oil Samples Kit
Additional copies of the Oil Samples Teacher’s Notes can be downloaded free from the BP Educational
Service website. Registration on the website is required.
For soda can distillation:
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Clean, washed, soda can
Coca Cola
Large beaker
Smaller beaker (that will fit inside large beaker)
Crushed ice
Bunsen or alcohol burner
Bunsen burner stand with wire screen
Clamp stand
Measuring Cylinder
Aluminium foil
Broom handle (for shaping aluminium foil into condenser tube shape)
Stopwatch
Safety Goggles and gloves (the set up will become very hot during use)
Web Links:
See Web Links included in Experiment 7: Crude Oil: Viscosity
Instructions:
1. Add 150mL of coca cola to the washed soda can.
2. Place the wire screen on the Bunsen burner stand and place the soda can on top.
3. Secure the soda can with the clamp stand.
4. Shape a distillation column by wrapping aluminium foil around a broom handle. You will need a tight
seal for it to work correctly.
5. Prepare the ice bath by placing a layer of crushed ice in the bottom of the large beaker; place the small
beaker on top of the layer of ice. This will be the receiving flask for the distillate.
6. Insert one end of the condenser tube into the soda can opening and bend the tube so the other end
can be placed into the small beaker.
7. Carefully heat the soda can contents for a maximum of 10 minutes.
8. Record the volume of distillate collected and the percentage yield.
9. If 1mL of distillate is worth £100,000 – calculate how much your distillate is worth.