Cracking and alkenes

• Cracking is the process in which long chain hydrocarbons are split into smaller, useful hydrocarbons
• Cracking is a thermal decomposition reaction
• Thermal decomposition requires heat to break something apart
• Cracking breaks a long chain alkane into a shorter chain alkane and an alkene
• Thermal Cracking is different from Catalytic cracking as there is no catalyst
• Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons
• Alkenes have a double bond between two carbon atoms
• The double bonds in alkenes make them more reactive that alkanes
• Bromine mixed with alkenes forms a colourless liquid
• Bromine mixed with alkanes forms an orange liquid (no reaction)