Cracking

• What is cracking ?

  Breaking down process of large hydrocarbons into smaller hydrocarbons
• Why are smaller hydrocarbons used?

  More useful
• Cracking has 2 methods

  • Catalytic cracking
  • Steam cracking
• What is catalytic cracking ?

  Passing hydrocarbon over hot catalyst at low pressure
• What is steam cracking?

  long hydrocarbons reacting with steam at high tempature
• What are the products of cracking?

  Mixture of smaller alkane and alkenes
• What is this an example of?

  Cracking

  
• On both sides of cracking equation what is the same

  Number of carbon and hydrogen atoms
• Why are alkenes unsaturated ?

  Have 2 fewer hydrogen atoms than alkane but same number of carbon atoms
• Why are alkane saturated ?

  Have maximin possible minimun of hydrogen atoms
• What is alkene used to make?

  Polymers(plastic) and other chemical products