Oil in Enem can be charged in different ways, from the extraction processes until the disposal of goods made with it. It is a product of economic and geopoliticsimmeasurable, however, proportional to its importance are the dangers involved in the extraction system of this fossil fuel.
Therefore, the participation of several specialized professionals and the implementation of safety procedures, both to protect people and the environment.
In order to better understand oil and its possible approaches in Enem, we went to talk to Marcelo Laurentino, Chemistry teacher at the Educafro Valongo pre-university course and a Petrobras employee at a refinery in the city of Cubatão, we also spoke with Elisa Parmejane, Geography teacher from Colégio Rio Branco. Check out what we discovered!
What is oil and where does it come from?
According to Marcelo Laurentino, Petroleum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon compound molecules associated with small molecules of nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen. In other words, oil is the result of the burial of large forests and animals, which happened millions of years ago, under great pressure and temperature.
Petroleum molecules are found in gaseous, liquid and solid forms in pores and micropores of rocks, according to the Chemistry professor. In more detail, Marcelo explains:
They (the molecules) accumulated, above all, in sedimentary rocks, where they concentrate in impermeable soils, forming pockets of oil reservoirs. Many people think that they are large oil wells, but in fact the oil is found in micropores, that is, they are micro droplets contained within the rock.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
What can oil do?
Oil is a very versatile raw material, It can be used in various industrial areas and is also useful for everyday activities of common people. Being so full of purposes, it is common to ask ourselves: since when have human societies handled oil?
According to professor Marcelo Laurentino, oil has been known for millennia, however, only after Industrial Revolution it came to be widely used. The educator details the extraction process and explains the types of materials originating from each stage of the procedure. Look:
Oil is obtained through a process called fractional distillation – a physical process of separating the molecules present in this complex mixture of molecules. This separation occurs in a fractional distillation tower, considering regulated temperature and pressure. In it, the lighter compounds go up and the heavier ones go down, generating compounds with more or less carbon.
The professor continues the explanation, he states that compounds that have one to two carbons form natural gas, those with three to four form cooking gas, those with five to six form a petroleum ether used as a solvent in industry. More products that can be made, depending on the amount of carbon, are gasoline, paraffin, asphalt, kerosene, petroleum jelly, between others.
Professor Elisa Parmejane highlights the ability of oil to also provide energy from fuels used in cars, ships, planes, as well as domestic and industrial energy and heating generators. The Geography teacher lists more products that use oil in their production:
- Paints
- Synthetic fabrics
- Varnishes
- Plastic
- Solvents
- Fertilizers
- Pesticides
- Detergents
- Cosmetics
- Hygiene products
How does oil extraction affect nature?
Despite having numerous functionalities, oil and its extraction processes present major threats to the environment. According to Geographer Elisa Parmejane, The main risks are:
Oil Spills: Accidental oil spills in the ocean or on land can cause severe damage to ecosystems.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Burning oil for energy releases carbon dioxide carbon (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming and changes climate.
Deforestation and Soil Degradation: The construction of infrastructure for oil exploration and transportation most often requires deforestation.
The Chemistry professor points out that accidents can have serious consequences as large-scale mortality of fish, seabirds and other animal species. He also highlights the damage caused by oil and its derivatives to the environment, as they are materials that have been preserved for a long time and there are almost no organisms capable of degrading them.
What to study about oil for Enem?
With so many related topics, What could happen to Petroleum in Enem? Well, on this topic, Professor Elisa said:
The items we have highlighted so far include the formation, extraction, use of oil and its environmental impacts;
The economic and geopolitical aspects of oil production and commercialization such as exploration fields, price formation and payments of property rights (royalties);
The main producing regions and countries and above all, the importance of the OPEC;
In Brazil, emphasis on the pre-salt and also on the issue of exploring oil in environmentally fragile areas such as the mouth of the Amazon.
