What type of reaction is cracking?

Answer 1

Cracking is the name given to breaking up large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller and more useful bits. This is achieved by using high pressures and temperatures without a catalyst, or lower temperatures and pressures in the presence of a catalyst.

The source of the large hydrocarbon molecules is often the naphtha fraction or the gas oil fraction from the fractional distillation of crude oil (petroleum). These fractions are obtained from the distillation process as liquids, but are re-vaporised before cracking.

There isn't any single unique reaction happening in the cracker. The hydrocarbon molecules are broken up in a fairly random way to produce mixtures of smaller hydrocarbons, some of which have carbon-carbon double bonds. One possible reaction involving the hydrocarbon C15H32 might be:

Answer 2

Cracking in chemistry is a term which is used to mean breaking down. This is a process where molecules are cracked in covalent bonds.

Answer 3

Cracking is the breakdown of long-chain alkanes into smaller hydrocarbons, usually by heating.

This is also known as Thermal Decomposition.

Answer 4

Cracking of alkane is heating an alkane at high temperature to obtain a short chain alakne and a short chain alkene. Francis- HGS Eldoret

Answer 5

cracking in organic chemistry generally deals about breaking of a larger molecule into smaller ones.

also referred as pyrolysis.

Answer 6

Thermal Decomposition. nerd