Cracking is a process that breaks down longer hydrocarbon chains into shorter, more flammable hydrocarbons.
There are two methods of cracking: catalytic cracking and steam cracking.
In catalytic cracking, long chain hydrocarbons are heated and passed over a powdered catalyst, causing them to split into smaller hydrocarbons.
In steam cracking, long chain hydrocarbons are vaporized, mixed with steam, and heated to a high temperature, causing them to split into shorter hydrocarbons.
The balanced chemical equation for cracking involves the long chain alkane reacting to form a shorter alkane and an alkene.
Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons with a double bond and are more reactive than alkanes.