Topics 3,4,5 - Acids, Metals & Fuels: Cracking Hydrocarbons

Question 1

What are the products of cracking?

Answer 1

Cracking a long-chain hydrocarbon produces shorter hydrocarbon molecules (short-chain alkanes and alkanes).

Question 2

How can liquid paraffin be cracked in the lab?

Answer 2

Heat th paraffin in a boiling tube along with some porcelain chips. The heated paraffin vapour will crack as it passes over the heated porcelain, producing smaller alkanes and alkenes

Question 3

What is cracking?

Answer 3

Cracking is a reaction that breaks down long-chain hydrocarbons into smaller, more useful molecules.

Question 4

Why are long-chain hydrocarbons often broken down by cracking?

Answer 4

The short chain hydrocarbons (e.g. petrol) that are produced by cracking are more useful, and often in higher demand, than long-chain hydrocarbons.