This deep dive covers The Chemistry of Cracking within Cracking (HT) for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Cracking (HT) in Organic Chemistry for GCSE Chemistry with 24 exam-style questions and 0 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 2 of 14 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 2 of 14
Practice
24 questions
Recall
0 flashcards
⚗️ The Chemistry of Cracking
Cracking breaks C-C bonds using heat and/or catalysts:
What Happens During Cracking:
• Long alkane molecules are heated until C-C bonds break
• Random breaking produces chains of different lengths
• Some products are shorter alkanes (saturated)
• Some products are alkenes (unsaturated — contain C=C bonds)
• The process is called thermal decomposition
• Long alkane molecules are heated until C-C bonds break
• Random breaking produces chains of different lengths
• Some products are shorter alkanes (saturated)
• Some products are alkenes (unsaturated — contain C=C bonds)
• The process is called thermal decomposition
Example: Cracking Decane (C₁₀H₂₂)
C₁₀H₂₂ → C₅H₁₂ + C₅H₁₀
decane → pentane + pentene
• One alkane broken into one shorter alkane + one alkene
• The alkene has a C=C double bond (unsaturated)
C₁₀H₂₂ → C₅H₁₂ + C₅H₁₀
decane → pentane + pentene
• One alkane broken into one shorter alkane + one alkene
• The alkene has a C=C double bond (unsaturated)