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cracking

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cracking

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The lighter alkanes methane, ethane, propane, and butane, showing the aliphatic chains, where a hydrogen atom bonds to a carbon atom at all available sites.
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Cracking occurs when a larger molecule is broken down into a smaller molecule by the heating or the addition of a catalyst. When ethane is heated ethylene is formed.

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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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
At that instant the air sprang to flame, a cracking shock of thunder shook the stunned world and Henry Armstrong tranquilly sat up.
The mice sat on their door- steps cracking cherry-stones, they winked at Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin Bunny.
This trick, a bad habit, the cracking of his fingers, always soothed him, and gave precision to his thoughts, so needful to him at this juncture.
 
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