what chemicals are in crude oil

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Crude oil is a mixture of comparatively volatile liquidhydrocarbons (compounds composed mainly of hydrogen and carbon), though it also contains some nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. Those elements form a large variety of complex molecular structures, some of which cannot be readily identified.

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Crude oil contains organic compounds, heteroatom compounds (S,N,O), hydrocarbons (C, H), metals and organic (Ni, V, Fe) and inorganic (Na +, Ca ++, Cl -) compounds as listed in Figure 1.7. Compounds that contain only elements of carbon and hydrogen are called hydrocarbons and constitute the largest group of organic compounds found in petroleum.

There are four main types of hydrocarbons found in crude oil. The hydrocarbons primarily are alkanes, cycloalkanes, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Although there is considerable variation between the ratios of organic molecules, the elemental composition of petroleum is well-defined:

Chemicals are required during the logistical handling and transportation of crude oil in tankers, pipelines or terminals. The flow can be improved in pipelines with the addition of drag reducing agents. Cargoes are stabilized with the help of chemicals such as mercaptan scavengers, pour point depressants and hydrogen sulfide scavengers.

… (Show more) crude oil, liquid petroleum that is found accumulated in various porous rock formations in Earth鈥檚 crust and is extracted for burning as fuel or for processing into chemical products. A summary treatment of crude oil follows. For full treatment, see petroleum, petroleum production, and petroleum refining.