Chemical reaction in which a large
alkane molecule is broken down by heat into a smaller alkane and a small
alkene molecule. The reaction is carried out at a high temperature (600°C/100°F or higher) and often in the presence of a catalyst. Cracking is a commonly used process in the
petrochemical industry.
It is the main method of preparation of alkenes and is also used to manufacture petrol from the higher-boiling-point
fractions that are obtained by the
fractional distillation of crude oil (unrefined
petroleum).
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