Modification of alkanes by cracking

• Define cracking

  Breaking up larger hydrocarbons into smaller ones
• What are the two advantages of cracking?

  -Converts low-demand fractions into higher-demand fractions

  -Makes useful hydrocarbons not usually found in crude oil such as alkenes and cycloalkanes
• What are the two types of cracking?

  -Thermal cracking

  -Catalytic cracking
• What are the conditions for thermal cracking?

  -High temperature

  -High pressure
• What are the conditions for catalytic cracking?

  -High temperature

  -Slight pressure

  -Zeolite catalyst
• What are the products of thermal cracking?

  High percentage of alkenes
• What are the products of catalytic cracking?

  Motor fuels and aromatic hydrocarbons