Uses and Cracking of Crude Oil

Question 1

What are some uses of crude oil?

Answer 1

Hydrocarbons from crude oil are used as a feedstock to make new compounds for use in polymers, solvents, lubricants and detergents.

Question 2

What is cracking?

Answer 2

Cracking is a thermal decomposition reaction and is the process of splitting up and breaking down long-chain hydrocarbons.

Question 3

Why is cracking useful?

Answer 3

Cracking is needed to make long-chain hydrocarbons shorter in order to make them more flammable and good for being used as fuels.

Question 4

What are the two methods of cracking?

Answer 4

Catalytic cracking and Steam cracking.

Question 5

What happens in catalytic cracking?

Answer 5

1) The long-chain hydrocarbons are heated to 600-700 degrees Celsius to vaporise them.
2) Then the vapour is passed over a catalyst of silica or alumina.
3) The long-chain molecules split apart on the surface of the catalyst.

Question 6

What happens in steam cracking?

Answer 6

1) The long-chain hydrocarbons are heated until vaporised.

2) Then they are mixed with steam and heated to a very high temperature.