cracking

• hydrocarbons can be cracked to produce smaller, more useful molecules
• long chain hydrocarbons are not easily flammable therefore do not make good fuels

  this is a problem as there is a high demand

  so they can be cracked to make shorter chains which are flammable and can meet demand
• the products of cracking include alkanes and alkenes (another type of hydrocarbon)
• types of cracking:

  • catalytic cracking
  • steam cracking
• catalytic cracking:

  • use high temp and catalyst (speeds up reaction)
• steam cracking:

  • use high temp and steam