1. Module 5

1.2. In this Module

In This Module

Module 5—Hydrocarbons and the Petroleum Industry

In This Module

 

Lesson 1—Fossil Fuels

 

Have you observed evidence of the hydrocarbon industry in your local area? In Lesson 1 you will begin to investigate the kinds of activities that are involved in the extraction and processing of hydrocarbons from petroleum.

 

You will investigate the following lesson questions:

  • What are hydrocarbons?

  • What is petroleum?

Lesson 2—Alkanes

 

Once petroleum is extracted, the refining process can begin. In Lesson 2 you will learn about different kinds of hydrocarbon molecules. You will specifically learn about alkanes, a type of hydrocarbon molecule that is present in, and must be separated from, natural gas. You will also consider the use of coalbed methane as an energy source.

 

You will investigate the following lesson questions:

  • What are alkanes?

  • What industries use alkanes?

  • What steps are used to refine natural gas?

Lesson 3—Alkenes and Alkynes

 

There are hundreds of thousands of different hydrocarbon molecules. How do you communicate a particular type of hydrocarbon molecule? In Lesson 3 you will learn about the systematic naming process used to identify four more classes of hydrocarbon molecules.

 

You will investigate the following lesson questions:

  • What are alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkenes, and cycloalkynes?
  • How is the structure of an unsaturated hydrocarbon communicated?
  • What is the abundance and significance of unsaturated hydrocarbons?
  • How does industry use alkenes and alkynes?
Lesson 4—Aromatics

 

In Lesson 3 you learned that hydrocarbon molecules can exist in closed structures. One group of hydrocarbons has a unique closed structure, the aromatic ring. In Lesson 4 you will learn about aromatic compounds and how their properties make them a distinct group of hydrocarbons.

 

You will investigate the following lesson questions:

  • What are aromatic compounds?
  • How do aromatic compounds differ from other hydrocarbons?
  • Why are there safety concerns associated with some aromatic compounds?
Lesson 5—Alberta’s Oil Industry

 

There is more to Alberta’s oil industry than pumpjacks. Alberta has heavy oil reserves and vast reserves of oil sand. In Lesson 5 you will investigate the different types of petroleum resources that are being developed in Alberta.

 

You will investigate the following lesson questions:

  • What is crude oil?
  • What is oil sand?
  • How is crude oil refined?
  • Why is oil sand processed?
  • What products come from crude and other oil types?
  • How is the oil industry affected by economics?
Lesson 6—Environmental Impact of Fossil Fuels and Alberta’s Oil Industry

 

In previous science courses you were introduced to the concept of a greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect identifies a central relationship between the combustion of hydrocarbons and the warming of Earth’s atmosphere. In Lesson 6 you will review this evidence, and you will consider other local, provincial, national, and international impacts of Alberta’s hydrocarbon and petroleum industries.

 

You will investigate the following lesson questions:

  • What processes in the petroleum industry impact the environment?
  • What effect does the reaction of hydrocarbons have on the environment?
  • What opinions does society have with respect to the petroleum industry?