Module 5

1. Module 5

Module 5 Introduction

Module 5—Hydrocarbons and the Petroleum Industry

Module Introduction

$A photograph shows part of an oil refinery. The tops of three fractionating towers and a flare are shown. A bright orange flame is shown at the top of the flare. A cloud of thick black smoke rises above the flame.$

In Module 5 you will investigate the structure and properties of hydrocarbon molecules. You will learn about the sources of hydrocarbons, and how these natural resources are developed by society. You will learn about the industries that are involved in the extraction, refining, modification, and manipulation of hydrocarbon molecules. You will build on and apply what you learn in this module to your study of petrochemicals in Module 6.

In Module 5 you will investigate the following questions:

What is petroleum?
What does Alberta’s petroleum industry do?
Where do hydrocarbons come from?
What are hydrocarbons and what makes them such an important class of compounds?
What are some of the processes that occur within Alberta’s petroleum industry?
What impact does the hydrocarbon industry have on Alberta’s economy and environment?

Remember that each lesson will also be organized around questions intended to guide your study. As you proceed through Module 5, you may record answers to these questions and any interrelationships that exist between them in a concept map or graphic organizer. More information is available in the Unit C Concept Organizer. In the Module 5 Summary you will receive further information on how you can use your concept map or graphic organizer to review the concepts you studied in this module.