To determine the best classification for the sample of crude oil, we need to analyze the provided percentages of each type of hydrocarbon present in the sample. The table gives us the percentages of paraffins, naphthenes, aromatics, and asphaltics in the crude oil sample.
Here's a summary of the data from the table:
- Paraffins: 30%
- Naphthenes: 49%
- Aromatics: 15%
- Asphaltics: 6.0%
Now, let's analyze these data points step-by-step:
1. Understanding the Components:
- Paraffins: A class of hydrocarbons, significant in crude oil.
- Naphthenes: Cycloalkanes, another type of hydrocarbon found in crude oil.
- Aromatics: Hydrocarbons with one or more conjugated planar ring(s).
- Asphaltics: Heavy complex hydrocarbons that form the residue of crude oil fractionation.
2. Analyzing the Types of Classifications:
- Element: A pure chemical substance consisting of one type of atom. Since crude oil contains various hydrocarbons and not just a single type of atom, it cannot be classified as an element.
- Pure Compound: A chemical substance composed of two or more elements in a specific ratio. The given hydrocarbons are different types of compounds and not in a fixed ratio with each other.
- Pure Substance: A substance that has a uniform and definite composition. A pure substance can be either an element or a compound. The crude oil sample is not uniform in composition; it contains various types of hydrocarbons in different percentages.
- Mixture: A material made up of two or more different substances which are not chemically combined. The hydrocarbons in the crude oil sample are all different substances mixed together without chemical bonding.
3. Considering the Composition:
Since the sample consists of various types of hydrocarbons mixed together and not chemically combined in fixed proportions, the sample is best classified as a mixture.
By understanding the nature of the constituents and the type of classification criteria, the sample of crude oil is best described as a mixture.
