Lecture 2

Petroleum Industry:
Exploration and
Shiraz University
Production
Department of
Petroleum Engineering

Physical and Chemical

Properties of Hydrocarbons
(Part II)

Dr. J. Qajar Semester 1, 1396-97

Lecture 2: Physical & Chemical Properties of Hydrocarbons

Recommended reference

Mc Cain (1990), “The Properties of Petroleum

Fluids”, 2nd ed., PennWell Publishing Company

Dr. J. Qajar Semester 1, 1396-97 2

Alkynes: Chemical structure
 CnH2n-2
 Carbon-carbon triple bond

3
Alkynes: Physical & Chemical Properties

4
Alkynes: Physical & Chemical Properties

 Similar to alkanes and alkenes

 Increasing melting and boiling point with increasing
carbon content
 Chemically the alkynes are very much like the
alkenes.

5
Cycloaliphatic HC: cyclic compounds
 Cycloalkanes (also known as naphtenes or
cycloparaffins)
 Contains saturated rings
 CnH2n

6
Cycloaliphatic HC: Chemical structure

7
Classification of hydrocarbons

8
Aromatic HC: Introduction
 Also known as arenes
 First compound in this group: benzene
 Benzene: flat molecule with six carbon arranged in
a hexagonal ring
 Benzene ring is very stable
 Hybrid bond (or benzene bond)

9
Aromatic: Chemical structure

10
Aromatic HC: Physical & Chemical Properties

 Have pleasant oddors

 Are generally quite toxic
 Inhalation of aromatic HC vapors should be avoided
 Relationship between physical properties and
molecular size

11
Aromatic HC: Physical & Chemical Properties

12
Classification of chemicals in petroleum
 Paraffins
 Naphtenes
 Aromatics
 Resins-asphaltenes

13
Resins-asphaltenes: Introduction
 Large molecules
 Primarily hydrogen and carbon with one to three sulfur,
oxygen, or nitrogen atoms per molecules
 Basic structure: ring-type primarily aromatic
 Asphaltenes do not dissolve in petroleum but are
disperssed as colloids
 Resins readily dissolve in petroleum
 Pure asphaltenes: solid, dry, black powder, non-volatile
 Pure resins: liquids, volatile
 Color of petroleum: largely determined by the quantity of
resins and asphaltenes

14
Physical classification of crude oil
 Specific gravity
 Gasoline and kerosene content
 Sulfur content
 Asphalt content
 Pour point: lowest temperature at which the
liquid is observed to flow when cooled under
prescribed conditions
 Cloud point: temperature at which paraffin
wax begins to solidify
15