Final answer:
Cracking hydrocarbons involves breaking carbon-carbon bonds in heavier hydrocarbons to produce lighter molecules similar to gasoline. It also includes the conversion of straight-chain alkanes to branched-chain alkanes or aromatic hydrocarbons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cracking hydrocarbons is a process used in petroleum refining to convert heavier and less valuable hydrocarbons into lighter and more valuable ones. There are two major reasons for cracking hydrocarbons:
- By heating larger and heavier hydrocarbons, carbon-carbon bonds are broken, converting them into lighter molecules similar to those found in gasoline. This helps increase the yield of valuable products like gasoline.
- Cracking also involves the chemical conversion of straight-chain alkanes to either branched-chain alkanes or mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons through reforming. This increases the value of the hydrocarbons as they can be used for various applications.