Links Hydrocarbons Revision Questions 
What is the Cracking of Hydrocarbons?
After the fractional distillation
of crude oil
there are too many
large hydrocarbons and not enough small
hydrocarbons
to meet the public's demand.
Some of the large hydrocarbons (the heavier fractions)
are broken down into more useful smaller hydrocarbons
(lighter
fractions) by a process known as cracking.
The chemistry
of cracking results in the formation
of smaller, more useful alkanes (such as petrol),
and even more useful alkenes (such as
ethene).
The fractional distillation of crude
oil produces alkanes.
Cracking is the main source of alkenes.
See also the dehydration of
ethanol to produce ethene.
Links Hydrocarbons Revision Questions
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