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Organic Chemistry

Why cracking is useful, and equations for it

  • 3 things to know
  • Chemistry Paper 2

Overview

Why small hydrocarbons are in demand and large fractions are cracked, the uses of alkenes, balancing cracking equations such as C₁₀H₂₂ to C₈H₁₈ and C₂H₄, and how modern life depends on hydrocarbons.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Which fractions from crude oil are the most likely to be cracked, and why?

Key term

Explain why the numbers of carbon and hydrogen atoms must be the same on both sides of an equation for cracking.

Key term

Give one example that illustrates the usefulness of cracking.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Explain why there is such a high demand for hydrocarbons with small molecules.

    Model answer

    They make the best fuels, because they vaporise and ignite easily and flow readily.

  2. 2

    Explain how cracking helps an oil refinery match its supply to demand.

    Model answer

    It converts fractions with large molecules, which are in low demand, into smaller molecules that are in high demand as fuels.

  3. 3

    Which fractions from crude oil are the most likely to be cracked, and why?

    Model answer

    Fractions with large molecules and high boiling points, because there is comparatively little demand for them.

  4. 4

    State one important use of the alkenes made by cracking.

    Model answer

    They are used to produce polymers.

  5. 5

    Apart from making polymers, what are alkenes used for?

    Model answer

    They are used as starting materials for the production of many other chemicals.

  6. 6

    Explain why alkenes are so valuable as starting materials for other chemicals.

    Model answer

    Their carbon–carbon double bond makes them reactive, so other atoms can be added across it to build new compounds.

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