1.4.4 Cracking Flashcards
What type of reaction is cracking?
Cracking is a decomposition reaction
What happens to the hydrocarbon chains during cracking?
The C-C bonds are broken, breaking long chains into smaller chains
Why do we need cracking?
Smaller alkanes are often in more demand than longer chains
What is thermal cracking?
Uses high temperature and pressure (450-900)
What determines the product size in thermal cracking?
Temperature is used to determine the product size
What sort of temperature does catalytic cracking happen at?
Around 450
What is a catalyst that is used in catalytic cracking?
Minerals called zeolites are an example
Why is catalytic cracking more efficient than thermal cracking?
More aromatic hydrocarbons are produced
How do petrol manufacturers get petrol with perfect properties?
They mix different hydrocarbons together
What is the octane rating?
The likelihood of petrol auto-igniting
What does a higher octane rating mean?
A higher octane rating means it is less likely to auto-ignite
