Cracking Hydrocarbons

Cracking Hydrocarbons

• longer-chain hydrocarbons can be broken down into shooter more useful hydrocarbons = cracking
• cracking is a useful industrial process
• during steam cracking:   

- the hydrocarbons are mixed with steam

- they are heated at 850 c

• during catalytic cracking:

- the hydrocarbons are heated until they vaporise

- the vapour is passed over a hot aluminium oxide catalyst

-a thermal decomposition reaction the takes place

• the products…