Chemistry · KS4 / GCSE · Hydrocarbons

Crude Oil & Alkanes

An interactive GCSE Chemistry simulation exploring the formation of crude oil, hydrocarbons and the alkane homologous series. Animated geological processes, crude oil extraction, interactive molecular models and an alkane builder help students understand where crude oil comes from and recognise alkanes using molecular and displayed formulae.

Shared by Alex Turner

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Educator notes

Specification: AQA GCSE Chemistry 4.7.1.1 – Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes.

Suggested teaching sequence

Crude oil formation: Play the animated sequence showing plankton dying, sinking, becoming buried by sediment and eventually forming crude oil over millions of years. Pause or scrub through the timeline to discuss each stage, emphasising why crude oil is a finite resource.
Extraction: Demonstrate how crude oil is extracted from porous rocks. Use the animated pump and changing oil reserves to reinforce that extraction depletes a limited resource.
Hydrocarbons: Explore the different molecules found in crude oil. Ask students to identify hydrocarbons by recognising that they contain carbon and hydrogen atoms only. Emphasise that crude oil is a mixture rather than a pure substance.
The first four alkanes: Compare methane, ethane, propane and butane using molecular models and displayed formulae. Hide names and formulae to test student recall.
Build an alkane: Challenge students to complete molecules by adding hydrogen atoms, reinforcing that carbon forms four covalent bonds.
Find the pattern: Investigate the general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂. Ask students to predict molecular formulae before revealing the answers.
Knowledge check: Use the 19 recognition and recall questions for whole-class assessment, mini-whiteboard responses or independent practice.

Classroom tips

Use Projector view and Focus mode (F) for larger visuals and clearer whole-class demonstrations.
Use the animation's pause, speed and timeline controls to encourage predictions before revealing what happens next.
Switch to Student view for independent exploration and written explanations.
Address common misconceptions: crude oil forms mainly from ancient marine plankton, hydrocarbons contain only hydrogen and carbon, and crude oil contains many different compounds rather than just the first four alkanes.

Set as homework

Paste the student link into your homework platform. Students get a clean page with just the simulation — no sign-in.

#crude oil#oil#hydrocarbons#alkanes

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