Alkanes, cracking, fractional distillation

compare the similarites and differences of thermal cracking and catalytic cracking

• thermal cracking - very high temperature and high pressures

• produces shorter alkanes and alkenes

• catalytic cracking - high temperature, slight pressure

• requires a zeolite catalyst

• produces aromatic hydrocarbons

define carbon neutral (1 mark)

an activity which has no net in carbon emissions to the atmosphere

explain why a zeolite catalyst is used in cracking in industry

• lowers the activation energy, increasing efficiency

• so a lower pressure and temperature can be used

define petrol(eum)

a mixture containing mostly of alkane hydrocarbons

define crude oil/petroleum

is a mixture of hydrocarbons only

define hydrocarbons

molecules that contain only hydrogen and carbon atoms

state the process of seperating hydrocarbons in petroleum/crude oil

fractional distillation

define fraction

is a mixture of hydrocarbons collected based on

1. similar boiling points

2. van der Waals forces

3. or number of carbons

suggest a reason for cracking alkanes

shorter chain alkanes and alkene are in higher demand and are more valuable

define cracking (1 mark)

the process of breaking long chain alkanes

into short chain alkanes and alkenes