Principle
Under the influence of energy, e.g. heat, light, and electric
discharge, all chemical compounds can be broken down into smaller
fractions. The reaction can continue up to the elements themselves.
In general, low-volatile crude oil components are disintegrated as
of approximately 400 °C. The presence of a catalyst lowers the
activation energy of this cracking reaction so that the
decomposition products are formed already at lower temperatures.
Saturated carbohydrates are then transformed into smaller saturated
and unsaturated molecules. Cycloalkanes are dehydrated to aromatic
compounds, straight-chain molecules to branched-chain molecules,
and branched-chain molecules to cyclic molecules.
Tasks
Investigate the cracking of hydrocarbons using a model
experiment.
What you can learn about
- Cracking
- Hydrocarbons
- Catalyst
