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Breaking down hydrocarbons (Petrol (Pros (Easy ignited and releases large…
Breaking down hydrocarbons
Smaller Alkane - used for fuel
Alkene - makes polymers (double bond)
Gas, petrol and diesel oil are in a lower supply but has a higher demand
Fuel oil and bitumen have a lower demand but a rich supply
Petrol
Cons
High demand but has a low supply
Releases C02, greenhouse gasses and linked to global warming and climate change
Pros
Easy ignited and releases large amounts of energy
Large amounts can be stored in cars fuel tanks
Liquid at room temperature
Cracking
What cracking is
Cracking
Longer molecules are produced from fractional distillation are cracked into smaller ones
Form of thermal decomposition where strong covalent bonds are broken so a lot of energy is needed
Cracking turns long saturated molecules (alkane) into smaller unsaturated molecules (alkene)
What cracking involves
1) Vapourised hydrocarbons are passed over to a catalyst at about 400-500 degrees
2) Aluminum oxide is the catalyst and the long-chain molecules split apart on the surface of the bits of catalyst
3) During the reaction the alkane is heated and vaporised and then breaks down when it makes contact with the catalyst
4) Product is mixture of short chained molecules and alkenes