Cracking Crude Oil

Question 1

What do long chain hydrocarbons form?

Answer 1

They form thick gloopy liquids such as tar.

Question 2

What are long molecules produced from fractional distillation turned into?

Answer 2

Smaller chained molecules using cracking.

Question 3

What is cracking?

Answer 3

• a thermal decomposition method
• breaking down molecules by heating them
• first step- heat long chain hydrocarbons to vapourise it
• vapour is passed over a powdered catalyst at a temperature of 400oc - 700oc
• long chain molecules split apart on the surface on the pieces of catalyst.

Question 4

Most of the products of cracking are…

Answer 4

alkanes.

Question 5

Unsaturated hydrocarbons are called…

Answer 5

alkenes.

This is ethene.