Cracking produces a shorter chain alkane and which other product?

Cracking produces a shorter chain alkane and which other product?

• A. Alkene
• B. Alcohol
• C. Aldehyde
• D. Toluene

Answer: (A)

Cracking breaks long-chain hydrocarbons into shorter pieces. When a bond in the chain is cleaved, one fragment tends to become a shorter alkane, while the other fragment forms a double bond to become an alkene. This unsaturation arises because the remaining fragment rearranges to satisfy valence after the break, giving C=C in the other product. Alcohols, aldehydes, and aromatic compounds like toluene aren’t typical direct products of plain cracking, so the alkene is the natural partner to the shorter alkane in this process.

Cracking breaks long-chain hydrocarbons into shorter pieces. When a bond in the chain is cleaved, one fragment tends to become a shorter alkane, while the other fragment forms a double bond to become an alkene. This unsaturation arises because the remaining fragment rearranges to satisfy valence after the break, giving C=C in the other product. Alcohols, aldehydes, and aromatic compounds like toluene aren’t typical direct products of plain cracking, so the alkene is the natural partner to the shorter alkane in this process.